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Updated: Jul 1, 2026
A System for ex vivo Culturing of Embryonic Pancreas
Published on: August 27, 2012
Mapping histologic and functional maturation of human endocrine pancreas across early postnatal periods
Diane C Saunders1, Fan Feng1, Alexander L Hopkirk1
1Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA.
Insights
This study maps early human islet development from birth to age ten, revealing distinct maturation timelines for insulin and glucagon secretion. Understanding pancreatic islet development is key for diabetes research.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Developmental Biology
- Histology
Background:
- Human endocrine cell differentiation and islet morphogenesis are crucial for islet cell mass and function, but their early developmental timelines are not fully understood.
- Early development of pancreatic islets is critical for overall metabolic health and understanding disease risk, such as type 1 diabetes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the morphological and spatiotemporal changes during early human islet cell development and maturation from birth through the first ten years of life.
- To create an integrated model of endocrine cell formation and islet architecture, including cell heterogeneity, proliferation, vascularization, and innervation.
Main Methods:
- Quantitative analyses of 123 pediatric pancreata.
- Confocal microscopy and whole-slide multiplex imaging for tissue analysis.
- Assessment of insulin and glucagon secretion profiles in isolated islets from pediatric donors (2 months to 10 years).
Main Results:
- An integrated model of human islet development was established, detailing endocrine cell formation, islet architecture, and associated processes.
- A temporal difference in maturation was observed, with insulin secretion maturing later than glucagon secretion in pediatric islet preparations.
- Data provides a comprehensive summary of postnatal and pediatric pancreatic islet development.
Conclusions:
- This study provides a detailed framework for understanding early human pancreatic islet development and maturation.
- The findings offer insights into the heterogeneity and temporal dynamics of islet cell development.
- This research serves as a foundation for future studies integrating genetic and genomic data related to islet biology and diabetes risk.
Abstract:
Human endocrine cell differentiation and islet morphogenesis play critical roles in determining islet cell mass and function, but the events and timeline of these processes are incompletely defined. To better understand early human islet cell development and maturation, we collected 123 pediatric pancreata and mapped morphological and spatiotemporal changes from birth through the first ten years of life. Using quantitative analyses and a combination of complementary tissue imaging approaches, including confocal microscopy and whole-slide multiplex imaging, we developed an integrated model for endocrine cell formation and islet architecture, including endocrine cell type heterogeneity and abundance, endocrine cell proliferation, and islet vascularization and innervation. We also assessed insulin and glucagon secretory profiles in isolated islet preparations from pediatric donors aged 2 months to 10 years and found a temporal difference in the maturation of insulin secretion compared to glucagon secretion. This comprehensive summary of postnatal and pediatric pancreatic islet development provides a framework for future studies and for integrating emerging genetic and genomic data related to islet biology and diabetes risk.
