An assay for small scale screening of candidate β cell proliferative factors using intact islets.

Current protocols for screening proliferative factors for β cells ex vivo are time-consuming, require cell lines or dissociated islets, and often entail expensive specialized screening equipment. Here we present an efficient and lower cost alternative that utilizes intact mouse islets for the initial screening of proliferative compounds and allows confirmation of β cell proliferation from the same islets. This protocol simplifies the process, saves money, and provides a way to identify β cell proliferative factors using equipment that is ubiquitous in most laboratories.