Coculture of rat islets and Sertoli cells in vitro / 中华内分泌代谢杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate a new method of a long term culture for rat islets in vitro. Methods Rat islets marked by green fluorescent protein (GFP) were cocultured with Sertoli cell for 20 weeks. Histological studies were performed on islet group and coculture group in 1w, 3w, 10w, 15w, 20w of culture by light, fluorescent and electron microscopy. Insulin released was measured by radioimmunoassay. Results In islet group, islet viability and the number of insulin positive cells were significantly decreased after 3w of culture, cumulative quantities of insulin for 24 hours and the stimulation index also fell rapidly under this condition, meanwhile the ultrastructure of islets was destroyed. However, under coculture condition, culture time of islets was prolonged in vitro, islet viability and the number of insulin positive cells were significantly increased, cumulative quantities of insulin for 24 hours and the stimulation index maintained at high level, and the ultrastructure of islets remained normal even after 20w of culture. Conclusion Coculture of rat islets with Sertoli cells may promote islet growth and prolong culture time, and it is a new method of a long term culture of islets in vitro.