Experimental pancreatic islet transplantation.

Transplantation of isolated islets of Langerhans has been suggested as a treatment of certain forms of diabetes mellitus. Injection of 200-400 syngeneic pancreatic islets isolated by collagenase digestion into the pancreas or submandibular gland of diabetic rats rendered most of the hosts nearly normoglycaemic. Blood glucose determinations were monitored for 2 months after islet transplantation. Although intrapancreatic and intrasubmandibular implantation reduced hyperglycaemia and polyuria in these animals, consistent normal values were rarely achieved.