A simple method of visualizing the islets of Langerhans within the pancreas and during their isolation.

Abstract

A simple technique has been devised for visualizing the islets of Langerhans within the pancreas and throughout their isolation. In the rat the efferent vein of the pancreas and common bile duct were clamped near the hilus of the liver causing blood to color the islets. Hanks solution was injected through the distal end of the common bile duct to distend the pancreas. The distended pancreas appeared as a translucent mass dotted with a large number of blood-colored bodies which represented the islets of Langerhans. The pancreas was removed and subjected to collagenase digestion. The extent to which digestion proceeded was determined by visual inspection of the accumulation of red islets at the bottom of the incubation flask. Washed islets responded in vitro to a high concentration of glucose by secreting insulin at an increased rate. Light microscopic study of the tissue revealed no evidence of morphological damage to the islet cells. This method of coloring the endocrine pancreas should aid any technique ...