Repeated isologous transplantation of islets of Langerhans in the diabetic rat.

The metabolic response to repeated isologous transplantation of isolated pancreatic islets was studied in 11 streptozotocin-diabetic AGUS rats. The islets were isolated with collagenase and transplanted intra-portally in batches previously found to be quantitatively insufficient for reversal of the diabetic state. Primary transplantation caused a slight improvement whereas retransplantation with the same number of islets three weeks later was followed by normalization of blood glucose, plasma insulin, urine volume and urine glucose per 24 hours during a three-month observation period. Repeated isologous transplantation of isolated pancreatic islets has an additive effect on the metabolism in that two insufficient tissue doses correct streptozotocin induced diabetes in the rats.