Background. Pancreatic islet grafts are difficult to manipulate and implant in the recipient site mainly because they are formed by a group of cells suspended in a solution. This physical property determines various characteristics that are unique for pancreatic islet transplantation. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the role of fibrin glue as a delivery method for islet transplantation.Methods. C3H mouse islets were syngeneically transplanted into streptozotocin-diabetic recipients using fibrin glue in a subcutaneous pocket (Group 1) and using liquid islets injected under the kidney capsule (Group 2). Blood glucose levels were measured during 4 weeks of follow-up and compared against normal (Group 3) and diabetic levels (Group 4).Results. No statistical differences were observed between the normal, kidney capsule, and fibrin glue groups. Only the diabetic group had a statistical difference when compared with the normal control group (P <.01). At the beginning, levels in Group I (fibrin glue) were higher than in Group 2 (kidney capsule), but turned into similar values after time and no statistical differences were observed between them during follow-up.Conclusions. Islet/fibrin glue grafts placed in a subcutaneous pocket obtained the same results as liquid grafts placed under the kidney capsule, proving to be an adequate delivery method for islet transplantation and solving some of the engraftment problems we find with liquid grafts.

Objective. Enzymatic digestion of the pancreas is a fundamental step in islet isolation and there are many ways to administer the enzyme during procurement. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of different methods of Liberase delivery during pancreas harvest on the quality and quantity of islets.Methods. Depending on the type of Liberase delivery, 4 groups were created. Group I was intraductal, Group 2 was interstitial, Group 3 was intragallbladder, and Group 4 was no infusion of enzyme. After injection, the pancreata were harvested, digested in Liberase solution, mechanically disrupted, and purified using discontinuous gradient centrifugation. After 24-hour culture, the number, purity, and viability of the isolated islets were determined.Results. Intraductal injection of the enzyme yielded statistically significantly more islets per mouse when compared with interstitial, intragal Hadder, and no injection administration. Although there was a trend toward better islet purity and viability for Group 1, this was not statistically significant.Conclusion. Intraductal administration is the best enzyme delivery method for pancreatic islet isolation. The pancreatic ducts are the most anatomic and physiological way to transport the enzyme uniformly inside the pancreas, determining an adequate digestion and better islet quantity and quality when compared with other delivery methods.