Perfusion preservation of cadaver rat pancreas: I. Morphological observation and biological function of the islets.

When using methods of perfusion to preserve the rat pancreas, we found that perfusion into the celiac axis was the most effective. The viability of the cadaver pancreas from decapitated rats preserved by perfusion into the celiac axis for 6 hours under various conditions of hypothermia, hyperbaria and oxygenation was investigated. The condition of perfusion affected the ratio of degenerative islets/normal islets in the pancreas. The ratio, under conditions of hypothermia and oxygenation was the lowest, while that under conditions of hyperbaria was the highest. Insulin-releasing activity of islets from 6-hour-perfusion-pancreas, under conditions of hypothermia and oxygenation was 86.5 per cent or more of that of the control. Stainings with fluorescent antibody and peroxidase antiperoxidase, revealed a large number of A and B cells in the islets of the pancreas, in cases of up to 6 hours of perfusion.