Islet-derived stem cells from adult rats participate in the repair of islet damage.

This study investigated the role of adult islet-derived stem cells in repairing islet damage. Using intraperitoneal injection of cerulein, a rat model of acute pancreatitis was induced in an experimental group. The expression of the protein c-kit, a pancreatic stem cell marker, was observed using immunohistochemistry at set intervals following successful model preparation. Pathological changes in pancreatic tissues were also observed using routine hematoxylin and eosin staining. Cells with positive c-kit staining were rarely observed in normal tissues. At all observation intervals after the induction of acute pancreatitis, c-kit staining was restricted to the islets. Over the course of observations, staining changed from low to high intensity, and then back to low intensity again. The primary pathological manifestation in the experimental group was edematous pancreatic tissues with local necrotic lesions. These findings suggested that c-kit positive cells are likely to be a type of pancreatic progenitor cell that is involved only in the self-repair of islet damage and does not migrate.