Preservation of Morphology, Insulin Biosynthesis, and Insulin Release in Cryopreserved Human Fetal Pancreas

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Abstract
Human fetal pancreatic glands were obtained from 12 consecutive prostaglandin-induced abortions. Explants cultured for 1 day were frozen at 0.3°C/min in a 1 M DMSO-containing medium and stored at −196°C. After storage for 3–4 mo the frozen material was rapidly thawed and cultured 1 day before being tested for functional performance. There was a positive correlation between the pancreatic insulin content and the fetal crown-heel length. Seven of the twelve fetuses showed a marked insulin response to an acute glucose-theophylline challenge. In five of these pancreases there was a well-preserved morphology after thawing, whereas only one of the nonresponding preparations showed a satisfactory morphology. Pancreatic explants from three of four fetuses tested displayed evidences of an (pro)insulin biosynthesis. The combined results indicated that low-temperature storage of human fetal endocrine pancreas is compatible with specific functional survival.

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