ACINAR-CELLS FREE PURE ISLETS FOR TRANSPLANTATION FROM INDIAN BONNET MONKEYS

Pancreatic islets, completely free of acinar cells were isolated from the Indian bonnet monkey Macaca radiata radiata for transplantation st udies. The monkey pancreas was inflated with Hank's solution containin g collagenase (5 mg/ml). After incubation for 25 min at 37 degrees C t he friable pancreas was teased apart. The fragments were aspirated wit h a 20 ml disposable syringe (without needle) twice and ejected. After the third aspiration, the homogenate was poured over nylon mesh. Isle ts were separated from the filtrate by centrifugation in Ficoll gradie nts and then hand picked. Histological examination revealed that the i slets were completely free of acinar cells. On exposure to glucose, th e islets responded normally with increased insulin release. They retai ned their structural integrity after transplantation under the renal c apsule of normal rats treated with cyclosporine. The deleterious effec t of exocrine cells after transplantation will be completely eliminate d by this islet preparation.