Cadaver Pancreas Recovery Technique

Previous studies in rodent and canine animal models have suggested a detrimental impact on islet recovery and function when pancreas excision is preceded by in situ vascular flushing with cold preservation solutions. We studied the efficacy of islet isolation from 19 consecutive cadaver pancreases procured alternately by initial pancreatectomy before in situ flush (group 1, our standard procurement technique, n=9) or pancreas removal following in situ vascular flushing with cold University of Wisconsin solution (group 2, n=10). Once procured, pancreases were weighed, the main pancreatic duct was cannulated, and 150 ml of collagenase solution was injected. The pancreases were transported to the isolation laboratory and processed within 2 hr. Islets were counted and sized after dithizone staining, and the islet equivalents were calculated. Aliquots of isolated islets were cryopreserved using established techniques. Islet function of both freshly isolated and frozen-thawed islets was assessed using a glucose-stimulated perifusion system.