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Updated: Apr 14, 2026
Stabilized Longitudinal In Vivo Cellular-Level Visualization of the Pancreas in a Murine Model with a Pancreatic Intravital Imaging Window
Published on: May 6, 2021
Viability and functional assessment of murine pancreatic islets after transportation between Korea and Japan
S Lee1, Y Takahashi2, K M Lee1
1Regenerative Medicine Laboratory, Center for Stem Cell Research, Department of Biomedical Science and Technology, Institute of Biomedical Science and Technology, Konkuk University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Background:
Organ donor scarcity remains a restricting factor for pancreatic islet transplantation. To date, limited information is available on the impact of long-distance transportation on transplantable pancreatic islets. The objective of this study was to assess the effects of transportation on the viability and function of murine pancreatic islet cells.
Methods:
The isolated murine pancreatic islets were transported from Japan to Korea with the use of commercial modes of transportation: subway and commercial airplane. After transportation, the islets were assessed by performing a viability assay and by evaluating the islets' insulin secretion in response to glucose stimulation. A comparative study was performed for evaluating the insulin secretory responses of transported and control islets (not transported).
Results:
There was no evidence of contamination in the transported pancreatic islets. No significant differences were observed in the viability and functionality of the transported and control islet cells.
Conclusions:
These findings show the feasibility of pancreatic islet transportation from Japan to Korea. Our data could be used not only for the inter-Asian but also for global advancement of animal and human islet transportation methods and transplantation research.
