Encapsulation of rat islets of Langerhans prolongs xenograft survival in diabetic mice.

Rat islets encapsulated in alginate-polylysine membranes were implanted intraperitoneally into nonimmunosuppressed streptozocin-induced diabetic mice. Diabetes was reversed within 3 days, and the animals remained normoglycemic for up to 144 days, with a mean xenograft survival of 80 days. This was significantly greater than nonencapsulated islets, which functioned for less than 14 days. The graft survival rate at 50 days was greater than 80%. Xenografts of rat islets encapsulated in alginate-polyornithine membranes also had a prolonged survival rate. This study demonstrates that encapsulation of pancreatic islets in semipermeable membranes can prolong xenograft survival in the absence of immunosuppression.