@entity35 islet cells in culture are able to form tridimensional aggregates with an architecture and functional activity similar to native islets: pseudoislets. Pseudoislets represent an alternative source for islet transplantation, because their transplant results in a long term allograft acceptance without immunosuppression of the host. Use of pseudoislets has been limited by their reduced yield and by poor reaggregation mass. Since culture conditions have been reported to affect reaggregation, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of different concentrations of two sera ( @entity2241 [ @entity2241 ] and @entity32785 [ @entity32785 ]) on reaggregation and insulin gene expression in pseudoislets. Islets were isolated from male Lewis @entity35 by means of histopaque gradient centrifugation. The day after islets were disrupted into single cells and cultured in RPMI 1640 5.6 mM @entity413 with 2%, 5% and 10% solutions of both @entity2241 and @entity32785 . Cells spontaneously reaggregated to form pseudoislets. After seven days of culture, pseudoislets were counted and analysed for insulin secretion and insulin gene expression using RT-PCR. Rat serum increased the number of aggregates and their diameters. Insulin gene expression of pseudoislets cultured with @entity32785 showed a ten fold increase in comparison to those cultured with @entity2241 . These data show that the culture medium supplemented with @entity32785 improves total reaggregate volume and increases insulin gene expression. With the perspective of pseudoislets' use in transplantation @entity32785 is better indicated than @entity2241 for the production of @entity35 pseudoislets.

Rat serum improves XXXX pseudoislet formation and insulin gene expression.

@entity35 :: ('10116', 'Species') :: ['rat', 'Rat'] @entity32785 :: ('MESH:D011906', 'Disease') :: ['Rat Serum', 'RS'] @entity413 :: ('MESH:D005947', 'Chemical') :: ['glucose'] @entity2241 :: ('MESH:D005315', 'Disease') :: ['FBS', 'Fetal Bovine Serum']
@entity35 :: (10116,Species) :: ['rat']
