Adult rat pancreatic islet cells adherent to microcarrier beads: evaluation of function and morphology

Dispersed adult rat pancreatic islet cells were incubated with Cytodex-3 microcarrier beads for 72 h, during which time single cells adhered firmly to bead surfaces. Electron microscopy revealed well-preserved ultrastructure of attached A, B, and D cells. Perifusion of these cultures showed stable basal insulin release, brisk, biphasic insulin responses to 30-min glucose stimulation, and consistent, monophasic spikes of insulin release in response to repeated, brief pulses of glucose. These results indicate that adult rat islet cells attach to microcarriers and remain viable in culture. This preparation offers advantages for studies of hormone secretory dynamics of differentiated single islet cells, free from cell-to-cell interactions.