Preparation of Islets from Rat Pancreas and Assessment of Islet Function.

The islets of Langerhans release vital hormones involved in the regulation of blood sugar and other aspects of metabolism. The islets are housed in diffuse clusters of cells within the exocrine pancreas and, therefore, purification of these cells for research or transplant purposes is a difficult undertaking. Here, a detailed protocol is presented for purification of islets from rat pancreas using limited collagenase digestion and step gradient centrifugation techniques. In addition, a method for assessing islet viability is presented using perifusion under both basal and stimulatory glucose conditions, with measurement of the hormone released using an immunoassay for insulin.