Continuous‐Perifusion tissue culture of fetal and adult pancreas of the lizard Anolis carolinensis

Abstract

The differentiation of the fetal saurian pancreas in continuous-perifusion tissue culture (CPTC) was examined. Splenic pancreases from 24-day postoviposition fetuses of the green anole, Anolis carolinensis, were grown for 8 to 31 days by CPTC following successful preliminary studies with adult pancreas. Adult anolian endocrine pancreas was maintained by up to 7 days by CPTC. The pancreatic explants were examined morphologically by light and electron microscopy. The functional integrity of the endocrine cells was evaluated by measuring hormone levels of the explants and in the basal medium and by determining the kinetics of hormone release. The pancreatic endocrine cells from fetal and adult anoles were functionally and morphologically intact after CPTC. The exocrine pancreas was not maintained during cultures. This study demonstrates for the first time the growth of the reptilian endocrine pancreas in culture.

The Anatomical Record is Alive With Leapin' Lizards and Slitherin' Snakes

“…Topics include effects of controlled temperature and day length on gonadal development (Bartholomew, ), gross and microscopic anatomy of the liver and gall bladder (Ells, ), osteology and musculature (Evans, ; Bellairs and Bryant, ; Throckmorton, ; Throckmorton and Saubert, ; Rubolini et al, ; Hall, ; Payne et al, ; Direnzo and Stynoski, ), endocrine and reproductive biology (Miller, ; Fox, ; Cavazos and Feagans, ; Neaves, ; Jacobs and Sis, ; Rhoten and Hall, ; Rhoten, ; Jones et al, ; Jones and Summers, ; Moscona, ; Young et al, ), and neurobiology (Zika and Singer, ; Colborn and Adamo, ; Proske, ; Gundy and Wurst, ; Baird and Lowman, ; Sligar and Voneida, ; Yeager et al, ; Pannese et al, ; McDevitt et al, ; Amemiya et al, ). Among the endocrinology papers are three reports by long‐time American Association of Anatomists' member William B. Rhoten, whose research focused on the pancreas of the garter snake (Rhoten and Hall, ; Rhoten, ). Other scientific topics covered by papers published between 1950 and 1999 in the Journal are cardiovascular biology (Prakash, ; Amemiya et al, ), tongue and mouth (Rabinowitz and Tandler, ; Toubeau et al, ; Iwasaki et al, ; Herrel et al, ), and the Harderian gland (Baccari et al, ; Rehorek, ).…”