Ethanol extracts of chickpeas alter the total lipid content and expression levels of genes related to fatty acid metabolism in mouse 3T3-L1 adipocytes.

Desi-type chickpeas, which have long been used as a natural treatment for diabetes, have been reported to lower visceral adiposity, dyslipidemia and insulin resistance induced by a chronic high-fat diet in rats. In this study, in order to examine the effects of chickpeas of this type in an in vitro system, we used the 3T3-L1 mouse cell line, a subclone of Swiss 3T3 cells, which can differentiate into cells with an adipocyte-like phenotype, and we used ethanol extracts of chickpeas (ECP) instead of chickpeas. Treatment of the 3T3-L1 cells with ECP led to a decrease in the lipid content in the cells.

The effect of fibrin on the survival of ischemic skin flaps in rats.

Background: Skin flap necrosis is one of the hazards encountered in plastic and reconstructive surgery. Angiogenic agents may be useful for treating it by increasing blood flow. The angiogenic effect of fibrin in vitro has been demonstrated, but little is known about its in vivo effect.

Dietary chickpeas reverse visceral adiposity, dyslipidaemia and insulin resistance in rats induced by a chronic high-fat diet.

The improved effects of dietary chickpeas on visceral adiposity, dyslipidaemia and insulin resistance were examined. Rats were fed a normal-fat diet (NFD), a high-fat diet (HFD) or a high-fat plus chickpea diet (HFD+CP) for 8 months. The epididymal fat pad weight v.

Hyperglycemia and diabetic renal change in a model of polyvinyl alcohol bioartificial pancreas transplantation.

Objectives: We have developed a bioartificial pancreas transplantation method using polyvinyl alcohol. Using this model, the relationship between hyperglycemia and parameters that represent renal function was investigated.

Methods: Plasma glucose, 1,5-anhydro-d-glucitol (1,5-AG), and renal factors including plasma urea nitrogen and creatinine levels, urine volume, glucose, and albumin were examined once a week for 9 weeks in diabetic mice with or without transplantation of encapsulated rat islets, and in normal C57BL/6 mice.

Globular adiponectin augments insulin secretion from pancreatic islet beta cells at high glucose concentrations.

Adiponectin plays an important role in improving insulin resistance and preventing atherosclerosis. However it has been rarely reported that adiponectin influences insulin secretion because its receptor was identified in human islet beta cells. In order to investigate the direct effect of adiponectin on pancreatic islet beta cells, we performed an insulin secretion test in purified rat islets, which were incubated with adiponectin (100 ng/mL) at low (3.

Effect of rat-to-mouse bioartificial pancreas xenotransplantation on diabetic renal damage and survival.

Objective: Diabetic nephropathy is a life-threatening complication of diabetes mellitus. Bioartificial pancreas transplantation is becoming a therapeutic option for diabetes mellitus as it protects both allogeneic and xenogeneic islets from the host immune system. This study was undertaken to determine the effectiveness of bioartificial pancreas transplantation to improve or prevent diabetic renal damage.

Cold preservation of islets in UW solution--with special reference to apoptosis.

Background: Apoptosis progresses in cultured islets. Little is known with regard to apoptosis under cold preservation. We examined viability and function of islets in University of Wisconsin (UW) solution.

Stem cells and regenerative medicine for diabetes mellitus.

A profound knowledge of the development and differentiation of pancreatic tissues, especially islets of Langerhans, is necessary for developing regenerative therapy for severe diabetes mellitus. A recent developmental study showed that PTF-1a is expressed in almost all parts of pancreatic tissues, in addition to PDX-1, a well-known transcription factor that is essential for pancreas development. Another study suggested that alpha cells and beta cells individually, but not sequentially, differentiated from neurogenin-3--expressing precursor cells.

PVA hydrogel sheet macroencapsulation for the bioartificial pancreas.

We newly developed a sheet-type macroencapsulation device entrapping rat islets from 3% polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) dissolved in Euro-Collins solution containing 10% fetal bovine serum and 5% dimethyl sulfoxide (PVA + EC) using a freezing/thawing technique. The same encapsulation technique but with 3% PVA dissolved only in double-distilled water (PVA) and a culture of free islets were served as controls. After 14-day culture in the CMRL-1066 medium, the islet recovery rate, morphological changes, insulin content, and insulin secretion were evaluated in vitro to prove the feasibility of this method of encapsulation.

The development of new immunoisolatory devices possessing the ability to induce neovascularization.

The transplantation of a bioartificial pancreas has been regarded as a potential method for successful islet transplantation without any immunosuppressive agents. The subcutaneous site is a very attractive site for transplantation of a bioartificial pancreas because of its advantage of an easy operation site. Our group has been reporting that transplantation of a bioartificial pancreas to the subcutaneous site can reverse hyperglycemia in diabetic recipients.

In vivo functioning and transplantable mature pancreatic islet-like cell clusters differentiated from embryonic stem cell.

Introduction: Although the differentiation of embryonic stem (ES) cells to islet like clusters using differentiation method without employing gene transfer technique has been recently reported, neither endocrine granules in the cytoplasm nor in vivo function of differentiated islet like clusters has been demonstrated.

Aims: To investigate whether ES cells could be differentiated to mature islet like clusters which show in vivo function after transplantation as well as retain endocrine granules in the cytoplasm by electron microscopic observation.

Methodology: In this experiment, using mouse embryonic stem (mES) cells as a model system for lineage specific differentiation, we tried to differentiate mES cells to pancreatic islet-like cell clusters (PICCs) through a series of treatments (4-step procedure).

Subcutaneous transplantation of macroencapsulated porcine pancreatic endocrine cells normalizes hyperglycemia in diabetic mice.

Background: The ultimate goal of islet transplantation is the unlimited availability of insulin-secreting cells to be transplanted in a simple procedure that requires no use of immunosuppressive drugs. Immunoisolation of xenogeneic pig islets for transplantation has great potential therapeutic benefits for treatment of diabetes.

Methods: Approximately 4 x 10(6) porcine pancreatic endocrine cells (PEC) isolated from 6-month-old pigs were macroencapsulated in agarose-poly(styrene sulfonic acid) mixed gel and implanted into a prevascularized subcutaneous site in streptozotocin-induced C57BL/6 diabetic mice.

Bioartificial pancreas transplantation at prevascularized intermuscular space: effect of angiogenesis induction on islet survival.

Introduction: Bioartificial pancreas (BAP) transplantation offers a potential treatment of diabetes mellitus. The optimal site for BAP transplantation has not yet been established.

Aim: To monitor the effect of induction of neovascularization at the intermuscular space on islet survival after allogenic transplantation of BAP.

Reversal of diabetes in mice by xenotransplantation of a bioartificial pancreas in a prevascularized subcutaneous site.

Background: The subcutaneous site has been regarded as a potential site for a bioartificial pancreas. Transplantation of islets, encapsulated by the development of diverse biocompatible materials and structural designs, can reverse hyperglycemia in diabetic recipients.

Methods: Approximately 750 Sprague-Dawley rat islets macroencapsulated in an agarose/poly (styrene sulfonic acid) mixed gel were implanted into a prevascularized subcutaneous site.