title: Comparison of murine embryonic pancreatic development in vitro and in vivo.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of the present study was to compare the development of murine embryonic pancreas in vitro and in vivo.
  
  
  METHODS
  Murine embryonic pancreas at 12.5 days of gestation was dissected and cultured at the air-medium interface. At 1, 3, and 7 days of culture, the characteristics of cultured murine pancreas were assayed and compared with that of pancreas in vivo.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The percentage of pancreatic duodenal homeobox-1 (PDX-1) and neurogenin 3 (Ngn3)-positive cells in pancreas cultured for 1 and 3 days was higher than that of pancreas at 13.5 and 15.5 days of gestation. Importantly, in comparison with embryonic pancreas in vivo, more insulin and glucagon-producing cells were developed in cultured pancreas. Furthermore, insulin was released in a regulated manner in response to glucose. The expressional kinetics of pancreatic markers of cultured pancreas was coincident with that of pancreas in vivo.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The development of the murine pancreas cultured at the air-medium interface mimicked that of pancreas in vivo. Our simple culture system might offer the potential of a source of mature β cells.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Institute of Hematology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Tianjin, China.
authors.forename: Fengxia
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Cécile
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Haumaitre
authors.forename: Fang
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Zhongchao
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Han
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D005865:Gestational Age; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D007328:Insulin / Q000378:metabolism; D007700:Kinetics; D051379:Mice; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D009924:Organ Culture Techniques; D038081:Organogenesis; D010179:Pancreas / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins; D015415:Biomarkers; D005947:Glucose; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D007328:Insulin; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D015534:Trans-Activators; C407737:Neurog3 protein, mouse; C084010:pancreatic and duodenal homeobox 1 protein