Neonatal Pig Pseudo-Islets: A Product of Selective Aggregation

Pseudo-islets have been formed from single cell preparations of neonatal porcine pancreas by selective aggregation using the gyrotational tissue culture method for 7 days. Small, distinct aggregates present on the second day of culture gradually enlarged by the seventh day and at that time were taken off for assessment of secreting capabilities and cell type identification. Provocative stimulation and immunocytochemical examination confirmed viable, well-preserved pseudo-islets which contain all four islet cell types. Neonatal pig pseudo-islet formation will allow us to pursue the suitability and growth potential of this source of islet tissue under appropriate immunoaltered conditions as a xenograft source for future transplantation studies.