Establishment of a protocol for the isolation of feline pancreatic islets.

Diabetes mellitus is a common endocrinopathy in cats that is associated with pancreatic islets lesions. Research on isolated islets contributed to the understanding of the pathophysiology of human diabetes. Therefore, by improving the existing methods of isolation in cats, we aimed at increasing islet yield, purity and viability of feline isolated islets. Islet isolation was accomplished by pancreas perfusion with 80ml of Collagenase type IV through the pancreatic duct at the site of the major papilla. The enzymatic digestion was combined with mechanical disruption and controlled by dithizone staining. Purification was performed by filtration and handpicking. Purified islets were plated on extracellular matrix pre-coated plates and cultured for 48h. Feline islets with a high degree of viability and purity were isolated and cultured for the first time. Although the percentage of islet free from the acinar tissue relative to the total number of isolated islets was low compared to other species, the suggested protocol represents a promising progress in the procedure of islet isolation in cats.