Co-culture of nerve cells and pancreatic islets

Nerve cell dissociated from the cerebral cortex of mice were co-cultured with isolated pancreatic islets of Langerhans. After two weeks of co-culture, numerous axons had invaded the islets and differentiated nerve endings were closely juxtaposed to the endocrine islet cells. In contrast, no remnants of nerve cells were observed in isolated islets cultured alone for the same duration. The attachment and/or survival and differentiation of nerve cells were markedly promoted in the presence of islets. The latter effects were probably due to insulin secreted by the islets in the culture medium.