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Culture of Human Pancreatic Islet Cells

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Book cover Human Cell Culture Protocols

Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Medicine ((MIMM,volume 2))

Abstract

The pancreatic islet is a microorgan composed of four types of hormone-producing cells. In the human pancreas, the islets comprise about l–2%; of the pancreatic mass, and the islet number is approx 1−2 × 106. The majority of cells, which are mainly located in the center of the islet, are the insulin-producing ß;β-cells In the periphery, α-cells and δ-cells synthesizing glucagon and somatostatin, respectively, are found. Finally, a small number of cells containing pancreatic polypeptide (PP) are scattered within the islets (1). In addition, in the intact pancreatic islet nerve cell fibers, vascular tissue as well as a few residing immune cells can also be observed. Owing to the requirements to study the in vitro function of the ß;cells for various aspects of diabetes research, methods have been developed to isolate and culture free pancreatic islets

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medical Cell Biology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden

    Stellan Sandle & Décio L. Eizirik

Authors
  1. Stellan Sandle
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  2. Décio L. Eizirik
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. King’s College, University of London, UK

    Gareth E. Jones

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© 1996 Humana Press Inc., Totowa, NJ

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Sandle, S., Eizirik, D.L. (1996). Culture of Human Pancreatic Islet Cells. In: Jones, G.E. (eds) Human Cell Culture Protocols. Methods in Molecular Medicine, vol 2. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1385/0-89603-335-X:391

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1385/0-89603-335-X:391

  • Publisher Name: Humana Press

  • Print ISBN: 978-0-89603-335-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-59259-586-0

  • eBook Packages: Springer Protocols

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