[Cultures of islet cells obtained from the fetal bovine pancreas].

The pancreas from bovine fetuses of 27-35 cm crown-rump length were used as a source of islet cell cultures. Pancreatic tissue was treated by collagenase, filtered through the metal sieve and incubated in MEM for 24 h. Using this method, cultures similar to so-called pseudo-islets were obtained. Aldehyde-fuchsin staining and electron microscopy revealed a significant number of beta-cells within the pseudo-islets, the insulin-producing activity of which was confirmed by RIA.