Abstract
Artificial pancreas containing of 1) 2ml culture medium without islet, 2) approximately 1200 (1000-1300), 3) approximately 2400 (2000-2600), and 7500 (7000-8000) xenogeneic rat islets were implanted in totally pancreatectomixed dogs. Devices were inserted femoral arteriovenous shunts of diabetic dogs and allowed to remain in place as long as 24hrs prior to removal. In group 1, as anticipated, there was no improvement of diabetic state with, passage of time. The plasma glucose concentration in group 2 fell gradually, but normoglycemia. was not achieved. In all 5 diabetes studied in group 3, a gradual decrease in blood glucose was found and normoglycemia was achieved after 10 to 12hrs. IRI showed rise shortly after insertion of device. However, glucose tolerance test remained abnormal. When the number of islets seeded was increased to about 7500, plasma glucose concentration fell rapidly from 339 to 200mg/dl 2hrs after insertion of the devices, and followed by eventual stabilization at normoglycemic levels after 5 to 6hrs. The results of glucose tolerance tests in these group showed normal.
These data showed that about 7500 xenogeneic rat islets in the artificial pancreas was required to restablish normoglycemia in totally pancreatectomized dogs.
