Various Techniques of Experimental Pancreas Transplantation in the Rat

Abstract

Pancreas transplantation as therapy for patients suffering from type I diabetes mellitus is far from being routine, especially in the state of terminal renal failure. In addition to immunological problems, the question of which is the most appropriate transplantation technique is a long way from being answered. Adequate handling of external secretion is a main subject of discussion. Today, transplantation of a duct-occluded pancreatic segment is the clinically preferred approach. The duct system is occluded by prolamine (Largiader 1981) or polymers like neoprene (Dubernard et a1.1983) for the purpose of immediate by stopping the exocrine secretion, followed by total atrophy of the exocrine tissue (Gebhardt and Gall 1980). Nevertheless, the islets of Langerhans continue their endocrine function. These techniques offer a considerable degree of protection against postoperative complications caused by pancreatic juice. Long-term results reported so far, however, give rise to the question of whether defects of the islets occur induced by the technically caused alterations of the gland.

This work was supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft SFB 111/B 12