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Stem Cell Renewal and Cell-Cell Communication pp 151–164Cite as

Isolation and Assessment of Pancreatic Islets Versus Dispersed Beta Cells: A Straightforward Approach to Examine Cell–Cell Communication

Part of the Methods in Molecular Biology book series (MIMB,volume 2346)

Abstract

Islets of Langerhans, found in the pancreas, are microorgans essential for glucose homeostasis within the body. Many cells are found with an islet, such as beta cells (~70%), alpha cells (~20%), delta cells (~5%), F cells (~4%), and epsilon cells (1%), each with its own unique function. To better understand the roles of these cells and how cell communication alters their function, several techniques have been established such as islet isolation and beta cell dispersion. Here we describe how to isolate primary rodent islets, disperse pancreatic islets, measure intracellular calcium, and use immunofluorescent staining to distinguish beta cells and alpha cells.

Key words

  • Beta cells
  • Dispersion
  • Immunofluorescence
  • Intact
  • Intracellular calcium
  • Islets of Langerhans
  • Pancreas

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  • DOI: 10.1007/7651_2020_338
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Acknowledgments

Rachel T. Scarl and William J. Koch contributed equally to this work.

Author information

Author notes

  1. Rachel T. Scarl and William J. Koch contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biomedical Sciences Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, Ohio University, Athens, OH, USA

    Rachel T. Scarl, William J. Koch, Kathryn L. Corbin & Craig S. Nunemaker

  2. Translational Biomedical Sciences, Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, Ohio University, Athens, OH, USA

    William J. Koch

  3. Diabetes Institute, Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, Ohio University, Athens, OH, USA

    William J. Koch, Kathryn L. Corbin & Craig S. Nunemaker

Authors
  1. Rachel T. Scarl
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  2. William J. Koch
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  3. Kathryn L. Corbin
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  4. Craig S. Nunemaker
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Craig S. Nunemaker .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Ottawa, ON, Canada

    Dr. Kursad Turksen

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Scarl, R.T., Koch, W.J., Corbin, K.L., Nunemaker, C.S. (2020). Isolation and Assessment of Pancreatic Islets Versus Dispersed Beta Cells: A Straightforward Approach to Examine Cell–Cell Communication. In: Turksen, K. (eds) Stem Cell Renewal and Cell-Cell Communication. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 2346. Humana, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/7651_2020_338

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/7651_2020_338

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Humana, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-0716-1569-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-0716-1570-6

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