PANCREATIC ISLET CELLS CULTURE TRANSPLANTATION INTO THE RED BONE MARROW
I.N. Ignatovich, S.I. Leonovich, B.A. Sluka, V.A. Goranov, and I.A. Melnikov

Background. Transplantation of pancreatic islet cells to patients with Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus (IDDM, DM by omission) is the promising treatment modality. Yet immunosuppression interferes with the contradiabetic effect of transplantation. The present research aims to study the feasibility of transplantation of islet cells without immunosuppressants administration intoimmunologically privileged site  – red bone marrow.
Methods. Islet cells were recruited from embryonal rabbit pancreatic gland using collagenase. Cultivating was performed at 37°C temperature in contact with gaseous matter of 95% oxygen content. Starting on day 7, islet cell culture was subject to temperature adaptation with slow lowering of the cultivating temperature to 24°C during 7 days and subsequent gradual rise to 37°C during the same time. Transplantation was committed into epiphysis of long bone of hind limb to the 5 dogs with experimental DM. Insulin activity in draining venous blood on the side of transplantation and on the contralateral side was analyzed. Morphometric study of cells on the side of transplantation and on the contralateral side was performed.
Results. The study of insulin activity in draining venous blood on days 30 and 90 following transplantation has  revealed the statistically significant (p<0.05) activity rise on the side of transplantation in comparison with the contralateral side. The morphometric study of red bone marrow smears taken 12 months after the transplantation revealed the statistically significant (p<0.05) rise of population with beta-cells parameters. No such changes were revealed on the contralateral side.
Conclusion. Xenogenous culture of islet cells transplanted into red bone marrow functions without immunodepressants’ administration and preserves for 12 months.