The aim of this study was to modify the isolation procedure by excluding Ficoll gradient centrifugation to obtain a similar or better yield of viable, functional islets. In our modification of the isolation procedure, the separation of islets from exocrine tissue was based on their sedimentation rate combined with their differential ability to attach to the surface of culture dishes for suspension cells.
The mean yield was 900 viable, insulin-producing islets per mouse, which was comparable to or even higher than the yield in commonly used protocols