Successful Intracerebral Allotransplantation of Purified Pancreatic Endocrine Cells in Diabetic Rat

Abstract

Single pancreatic endocrine ceils (PEC) have been demonstrated to restore normoglycemia when transplanted intracerebrally in diabetic rat recipients across a major histocompatibility barrier without immuno-suppression. Twelve out of twelve transplants of purified PEC have achieved long-term survival of over 176 days. This approach would provide a model to identify the specific cell(s) as inducer of graft rejection and an opportunity for transplantation study in spontaneous diabetic BB rats and larger diabetic animal models.