Abstract
Organ culture of the pancreatic islets of a 14-day old WKA rat was achieved on a millipore filter supported by a small petri dish filled with liquid medium. During the 9-day culture period, the architecture of the islets was preserved. Morphological alterations of B cells were found under electron microscopy after increasing the concentration of glucose. These changes in B cells included degranulation and formation of well-developed rough endoplasmic reticulum. A few mitotic figures were observed among B cells of islets cultured with glucose at 3 mg per ml for nine days. The morphological observations were supported by radioimmunoassay of insulin-release into the medium. Organ-cultured islets in 3 mg per ml of glucose released approximately nine times as much insulin into the medium during each three day period assayed as islets in 1 mg per ml of glucose. This culture system provides a useful tool for investigating the effects of various agents on the function of islet cells for prolonged periods in vitro.
