A method for the massive separation of highly purified, adult porcine islets of Langerhans.

A method for the massive and reproducible isolation of highly purified, adult porcine islets of Langerhans is described. The successful combination of donor animal-strain selection with original procedures for pancreas retrieval and enzymatic digestion permitted us to separate uniquely massive concentrations of pure porcine islets with no need for mechanical disruption of the pancreatic tissue. Following our procedure, porcine islets, which fully retain viability and function, can be harvested easily and rapidly. Xenotransplantation of such islets, immunoprotected within algin/polyaminoacidic microcapsules, was associated with complete reversal of hyperglycemia in rodents with either spontaneous or streptozotocin-induced diabetes mellitus.