Isolation of Insulin in Crystalline Form from Fish Islets (Cod and Pollock) and from Pig's Pancreas.

Abstract

We have succeeded in obtaining insulin in crystalline form with relative ease from the islets of fishes. These crystals are practically identical in physiological activity and in sulphur content with the crystals prepared from beef insulin.The crystallization of insulin from pig's pancreas is more difficult. About 2 years ago Professor Abel encountered difficulties in crystallizing insulin from several of the Lilly preparations. He subsequently learned that these extracts had been made from the pancreatic tissue of both pigs and beeves. Following this observation extracts made only from the pancreas of beeves were used until the present opportunity of working with extracts made from the islet tissue of fishes1 and from the pancreas of the pig,2 presented itself. We have now succeeded in obtaining crystalline insulin from an extract made from pig's pancreas only. The main difficulty appears to us at present to be due to the higher content of fats and lipoids in pig's pancreas. It seems advisable to use bee...