EFFECTS OF MEDIUM SUPPLEMENTS ON VIABILITY AND FUNCTIONALITY IN LONG-TERM CULTURED ISLET CELLS

It is highly important to keep islet cells alive and functional before transplantation. This study aims to maintain the viability and functionality of islets with different supplements and provide longer incubation. Isolated islets were cultured with RPMI1640 with 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS) or 1% insulin-transferrin-sodium selenite (ITS) premix or 0.3% bovine serum albumin (BSA) up to 120h. Islets were evaluated in terms of viability, functionality and morphologically. Islet viability of the BSA group decreased significantly in 72, 96, and 120 h (P < 0.05) compared to FBS and ITS groups. While insulin secretion of the BSA group was lower than the others at only 48 and 72 h, the stimulation index was at rational reasonable for transplantation in all groups at 48h and only in the FBS and ITS groups at 72 h. However, islet cells adhere to each other in the FBS group after 48h. Moreover, total oxidant status was the highest and total antioxidant status was the lowest in the BSA group at 120 h. It was concluded that ITS premix could be preferred to FBS and BSA in long-term islet cultures.