[Intrasplenic xenotransplantation of human fetal pancreatic islet cell cultures in rats with experimental diabetes mellitus].

Islet cell cultures obtained from the pancreas of human embryos were transplanted to the spleen pulp of rats with alloxan diabetes mellitus. During 1-2 weeks after transplantation, 6 of the 8 recipients manifested a decrease in glycemia to normal or almost normal. The antidiabetic effect of xenotransplantation of islet cell cultures was well preserved throughout the entire observation period (up to 4 months). Two recipient rats with stable normoglycemia were subjected to splenectomy. One week after operation the animals manifested the recurrent grave diabetic status. Histological study of the removed spleen has shown the red pulp to contain the accumulations of implanted islet cells.