IMMUNOCYTOCHEMICAL STUDY OF PANCREATIC ISLET REVASCULARIZATION IN ISLET ISOGRAFT

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Abstract
We studied the revascularization process of isogeneic islets grafted into the kidney subcapsular space of streptozotocin-induced diabetic and nondiabetic rats by a double-labeling, indirect immunofluores-cence technique using a rabbit antiserum to human factor VIII-related antigen (which identifies endothelial cells) and a guinea pig anti-insulin antiserum (which labels pancreatic β cells). Freshly isolated islets contained a network of capillary endothelial cells, whereas 1-week-cultured islets at 37°C have completely lost their intra-islet endothelial cells. Overnight cultured islets contained only occasional endothelial cells. When these islets were grafted under the kidney capsule of nondiabetic rats, they rapidly acquired a new endothelial cell lining as demonstrated by the positivity of staining for factor VIII-related antigen at day 5 after implantation. On the other hand, 1-week-cultured islets failed to become fully revascu-larized until day 7 after transplantation. Streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats grafted with 1000 islets normalized their blood glucose values (< 11 mM/L) 2–4 weeks after implantation, whereas transplantation of 2500–3000 islets resulted in normoglycemia after 4.7±2 days (mean ± SD). Nevertheless, hyperglycemia of the recipient did not adversely affect the process of revas-

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