Abstract:Objective:To observe the effects of islet-liking cell clusters inducing from pancreatic duct stem cells in treatment of diabetic rats by transplantation. Methods:After intraductal collagenase digestion,purified by Ficoll density gradient centrifugation,fresh islets and pancreatic duct stem cells were obtained. Then the cells were cultured and expanded in vitro. The 2nd to 6th generation of duct cells were induced in four stages to differentiate into islet-like cell clusters. Islet-like cell clusters were detected by immunofluorescence staining before transplantation. The rat diabetic model was constructed by intraperitoneal injection with streptozotocin(STZ). Eighteen diabetes rats were randomly divided into three groups:diabetic control group,islet transplantation group,islet-liking cell clusters transplantation group. The implants were transplanted into the subcapsular in the left kidneys. The levels of non-fasting blood glucose of rats in 3 groups were measured every other day. Results:The pancreatic duct cells isolated and purified had the characteristic of stem cells by immunofluorescence staining. The results of immunofluorescence staining revealed that insulining and glucagon stain of the islet-like cell clusters were positive. After transplantation,the level of blood glucose of rats in the control group was high,keeping in the range of diabetes. The blood glucose level of rats in the islet transplantation group decreased after transplantation,which was in the normal range for two weeks. The blood glucose level of rats implanted with islet-like cell clusters increased in the first two days after transplantation and decreased after then,and was higher than the normal range during two weeks. Conclusion:Islet-like cell clusters generated in vitro from pancreatic duct cells has some effects on reversing the diabetes in diabetic rats,although the blood glucose control effect is not satisfying.