Subcutaneously implanted polymeric scaffolds represent an alternative transplantation site for pancreatic islets (PIs) with the option of vascularisation enhancement by mesenchymal stem cells (MSC). Nevertheless, a proper timing of the transplantation steps is crucial. In this study, scaffolds supplemented with plastic rods were implanted into diabetic rats and two timing schemes for subsequent transplantation of bioluminescent PIs (4 or 7 days after rod removal) were examined by multimodal imaging. The cavities were left to heal spontaneously or with 10 million injected MSCs. Morphological and vascularisation changes were examined by MRI, while the localisation and viability of transplanted islets were monitored by bioluminescence imaging. The results show that PIs transplanted 4 days after rod removal showed the higher optical signal and vascularisation compared to transplantation after 7 days. MSCs slightly improved vascularisation of the graft but hindered therapeutic efficiency of PIs. Long-term glycaemia normalisation (4 months) was attained in 80% of animals. In summary, multimodal imaging confirmed the long-term survival and function of transplanted PIs in the devices. The best outcome was reached with PIs transplanted on day 4 after rod removal and therefore the suggested protocol holds a potential for further applications.

• MeSH
• alografty MeSH
• experimentální diabetes mellitus * diagnostické zobrazování   chirurgie   MeSH
• krysa rodu Rattus MeSH
• Langerhansovy ostrůvky * krevní zásobení   diagnostické zobrazování   metabolismus   patologie   MeSH
• luminiscenční měření * MeSH
• mezenchymální kmenové buňky metabolismus   patologie   MeSH
• potkani transgenní MeSH
• přežívání štěpu * MeSH
• tkáňové podpůrné struktury * MeSH
• transplantace Langerhansových ostrůvků metody   MeSH
• transplantace mezenchymálních kmenových buněk MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• krysa rodu Rattus MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH