| Summary |
Inconsistent results in diabetes therapy with insulin and other agents have prompted research into the feasibility of pancreatic islet transplantation. Pancreatic primordia from 18-day rat fetuses were cultured individually for ten days on rayon grids in a medium of chicken embryo extract and chicken serum. Explants were transferred to fresh media and culture units every other day. After ten days, cultures on grids were implanted to four sites in Sprague Dawley rats. The presence of the rayon grids greatly facilitated the later recovery of transplants. One half of the hosts were diabetic, having received one 90 mg per kg i.v. injection of streptozotocin. After seven or 30 days as implants, the tissues were recovered, fixed in Bouin's fluid, and stained with aldehyde fuchsin for beta cells. At seven days, implants recovered from control animals had normally staining, granulated beta cells while those from streptozotocin diabetic animals exhibited substantial, degranulation. Implant revascularization was observed grossly and microscopically. After 30 days both groups showed lymphocyte pools and extensive vascularity with many large, well developed vessels. Connective tissue covered the rayon grid, replacing implanted pancreatic tissue. Thus, immunological rejection was nearly complete by 30 days. These preliminary data indicate that the morphological integrity of fetal rat pancreatic beta cells is maintained in transplants of cultured material for 7 or more days. Implant site suitability was evaluated on the basis of vascularity and degree of implant integration into host tissue. Accordingly, the kidney capsule and visceral fat made better transplant sites than subcutaneous or intramuscular location. These results are preliminary to studies that could be adapted to human pancreatic culture and implantation. |
| Local note | Joyner-"Presented to the faculty of the Department of Biology ... in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Master of Science in Biology." |
| Local note | Joyner-"Presented to the faculty of the Department of Biology ... in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Master of Science in Biology." |
| Local note | Joyner-"Presented to the faculty of the Department of Biology ... in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Master of Science in Biology." |
| General note | Presented to The Faculty of the Department of Biology |
| General note | Advisor: Everett C. Simpson |
| Dissertation note | M.S. East Carolina University |
| Bibliography note | Includes bibliographical references (leaves 52-53). |
| Genre/form | Academic theses. |
| Genre/form | Academic theses. |
| Genre/form | Thèses et écrits académiques. |
