The effect of time and temperature on viability and performance of Langerhans islets separated from Balb/c mouse after death

BACKGROUND: Tissue transplantation plays a pivotal role in the treatment of diseases. Pancreatic beta cell transplantation is the best way to obtain normal blood glucose in patients with diabetes type 1. However, it is not clear how long endocrine pancreas cells can be used for transplantation after the donor's death. The present study was conducted to analyze the performance and viability of pancreatic islet cells after death. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Pancreas was separated from Balb/c mice at different times (0, 1, 4, 6, 12, and 24 h after death) at temperatures of 4°C and 23°C, and was cultured in Roswell_Park_Memorial_Institute (RPMI) 1640. Insulin shock, MTT assay, aldehyde fuchsin staining, dithizone staining, and florescence microscopy methods were applied to analyze the performance of beta cells, cell viability, islets’ diagnosis, islet cells’ diagnosis, and viable and necrotic cells diagnosis, respectively. RESULTS: Islets of Langerhans and beta cells were diagnosed. By increasing the temperature and time, the viability and performance of beta cells decreased significantly (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The best condition for keeping the islets of Langerhans in terms of viability and performance is 4 h after death at temperature of 4°C.