Co-transplantation of fetal rat pancreatic stem cells and islets of langerhans to preserve viability of islets

Zhang Yu-sen; Bao Shi-yun; Zhang Yue; Li Fu-rong

doi:10.3969/j.issn.2095-4344

Abstract：BACKGROUND:Pancreatic stem cels can maintain the islet structurein vitro, reduce necrosis and apoptosis of islet cels,in vitro prolong islet survival, and keep islet activity. <br> OBJECTIVE: To observe the possibility of preserving viability of isletsin vivo by co-transplanting fetal rat pancreatic stem cels and islets so as to improve the outcome of islet transplantation. <br> METHODS:Thirty-five adult rats were randomly divided into five groups, including co-transplantation, islet transplantation alone, pancreatic stem celltransplantation alone, diabetes control and normal control groups. Diabetic models were established in the former four groups by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin-citrate buffer. Pancreatic stem cels from the fetal rats at pregnant 16 days or islets from adult Sprague-Dawley rats. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:In the co-transplantation group, the levels of blood glucose and plasma insulin returned to the normal after 5 days of co-transplantation, and the survival time of islets was (18.2±2.4) days. In the islet transplantation alone group, the level of blood glucose was reduced to normal after 1 week of transplantation, and the survival time of islets was (14.4±2.1) days. Significant different was found between the survival time of islets between this two groups (P < 0.05). However, the level of blood glucose was stil abnormal in the other groups. These findings indicate that the co-transplantation of fetal rat pancreatic stem cels and islets can prolong the survival time of isletsin vivo, protect viability of islets and improve the outcome of islet transplantation.