An investigation into the distribution of different collagen types within adult and juvenile porcine pancreata

One of the difficulties of porcine islet isolation is their fragility durin g collagenase digestion. The object of this study was to determine the dist ribution of 4 different collagen types within adult and juvenile porcine pa ncreata. Five different areas from each pancreas were analysed by light mic roscopy. The distribution of collagen types I, IV, V and VI were measured w ithin the interlobar, intralobular (acinar), peri-insular and intra-islet r egions. Their was an abundance of collagen type VI compared to I, IV and V in both the interlobar and intralobular septa in both juveniles (P<0.001) a nd adults (P<0.001). The peri-insular collagen content also showed diversit y. This was mainly attributable to the distribution of collagen type I (wea k) and type VI (intense) in both adults and juveniles. In general, the peri -insular capsule was fragmentary and contained less than 50% of the total i slet circumference. The latter finding taken together with the distribution s of different collagen types can partly explain some of the variability of porcine islet isolation.