P-188

The importance of animal research in the history of Langerhans Islet transplantation.

E. ?íhalová¹
Institute Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Langerhans Islet Laboratory, Prague, Czech Republic

The role of animal experimentation has been vital in the research and later practical application in therapeutic use. The history of Langerhans Islets transplantation began in 1869, with Paul Langerhans discovering islets in animal models but their function remained unknown. E.L. Opie, in 1901, also using animal models explained the islets function and in 1902 L.W. Ssobolew demonstrated that islets were responsible for sugar distribution. Later in 1904, Jean De Meyer named the products of islets as “insulin”. The breakthrough in islet research came in 1965 with S. Moslkalewksi employing rats for the isolation and culture of islets. The next significant step was in 1967 by P.E. Lacy and M. Kostianowsky who isolated intact islets from the rat pancreas. In 1971, C. Ricordi and his team started research about the method of islet transplantation from various animals. The next year, P.E. Lacy surgically transplanted islets between animals. In 1988, Ricordi developed the pioneering method for mechanical isolation of large amounts of islets very easily firstly from pigs and later from humans. The most recent development in 2000 in Edmonton, Canada, was when a research team reported seven Type 1 diabetic patients released from daily insulin injections after islet transplantation. Initial phases of this research performed on animals allow for translation of ideas to clinical practice.

P-188

The importance of animal research in the history of Langerhans Islet transplantation.

E. ?íhalová¹
Institute Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Langerhans Islet Laboratory, Prague, Czech Republic

The role of animal experimentation has been vital in the research and later practical application in therapeutic use. The history of Langerhans Islets transplantation began in 1869, with Paul Langerhans discovering islets in animal models but their function remained unknown. E.L. Opie, in 1901, also using animal models explained the islets function and in 1902 L.W. Ssobolew demonstrated that islets were responsible for sugar distribution. Later in 1904, Jean De Meyer named the products of islets as “insulin”. The breakthrough in islet research came in 1965 with S. Moslkalewksi employing rats for the isolation and culture of islets. The next significant step was in 1967 by P.E. Lacy and M. Kostianowsky who isolated intact islets from the rat pancreas. In 1971, C. Ricordi and his team started research about the method of islet transplantation from various animals. The next year, P.E. Lacy surgically transplanted islets between animals. In 1988, Ricordi developed the pioneering method for mechanical isolation of large amounts of islets very easily firstly from pigs and later from humans. The most recent development in 2000 in Edmonton, Canada, was when a research team reported seven Type 1 diabetic patients released from daily insulin injections after islet transplantation. Initial phases of this research performed on animals allow for translation of ideas to clinical practice.