Osmotic tolerance limits of canine pancreatic islets

Future improvements in the recovery and function of pancreatic islets following cryopreservation will require a more precise quantification of the stresses that occur at each stage of the cryopreservation protocol. Changes in solution osmolality during the addition and dilution of cryoprotectants and during freezing and thawing induce changes in islet volume that may exceed tolerable limits. The aim of this study was to determine the range of solution osmolalities that results in significant changes in islet function. Islets were isolated from canine pancreases by collagenase digestion and Euro-Ficoll purification. Following 12-h culture at 37 degrees C, islets were counted and dispensed into multiwell plate inserts. Islet function was assessed in each well immediately before and 24 h following a 10-min osmotic challenge with hypo- or hyperosmotic solutions of PBS (0, 75, 150, 300, 600, 1200, or 2300 mOsm/kg) at 22 degrees C. Canine islets reached their osmotic equilibrium within 10 min. Duplicate wells were used for each osmolality treatment for each of six donors (n = 12). No significant differences in basal or glucose-stimulated insulin secretion were found between wells prior to the osmotic challenge (3.35 +/- 0.45 and 20.98 +/- 3.36 microIU/IE/h, respectively). Following the osmotic challenge and 24-h in vitro tissue culture, a significant increase in basal secretion was observed for islets exposed to 0 and 75 mOsm/kg solutions and a significant decrease for islets exposed to 2300 mOsm/kg solution. Islets exposed to 0 and 2300 mOsm/kg solutions showed significant decreases in the stimulated insulin secretion when compared to controls. Solution osmolalities of 150-1200 mOsm/kg appear to be tolerated by canine islets with no significant deviations in insulin secretion. The corresponding tolerable volume range was 152.6 +/- 6.8% to 60 +/- 5.1% of the isotonic islet volume. The minimum critical volume was used in a theoretical analysis of the islet volumes that would result from equilibrium freezing in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). The calculations show that 1.5 mol/l DMSO is sufficient to prevent damage to islets due to excessive shrinkage. Further refinement of cryoprotectant addition and dilution protocols, and cooling and warming protocols for canine islets, are now possible.