Lack of responsiveness to glucose of microencapsulated islets of Langerhans after three weeks' implantation in the rat--influence of the complement.

Microencapsulated islets of Langerhans retrieved from peritoneal cavity of rats three weeks after implantation had a reduced hormonal secretion and were no longer responsive to alterations in glucose levels. Activation of complement could not completely account for the observed fibrosis which was thought to be responsible for the loss of responsiveness of the encapsulated cells.