Enhancement of mouse pancreatic regeneration and HIT-T15 cell proliferation with rat pancreatic extract.

In this study, the effects of rat pancreatic extract (RPE) on regeneration of impaired mouse pancreas and proliferation of beta-cell line (HIT-T15) were investigated. RPE from the regenerating pancreas (2 days after 60% pancreatectomy) was treated to cure streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetes in BALB/c mice. RPE-treated BALB/c mice for 21 consecutive days became euglycemic by day 30 and remained normoglycemic during a 150 day follow-up. Saline treated mice remained hyperglycemic sustained uncontrolled hyperglycemia. Islet neogenesis was observed in RPE-treated mice and confirmed by use of immunocytochemistry. Morphometric analysis of pancreas in reverted RPE-treated mice showed a new population of small islets compared with saline controls and an increased islet number. When HIT-T15 cells were treated with RPE, HIT-T15 cell proliferation and insulin secretion increased with increases in the RPE concentration. These results imply that RPE have the regeneration factors and help in the cure of diabetes.