Comparison of Murine Embryonic Pancreatic Development in Vitro and in Vivo

Objectives: The purpose of the present study was to compare the development of murine embryonic pancreas in vitro and in vivo. Methods: Murine embryonic pancreas at 12.5 days of gestation was dissected and cultured at the air-medium interface. At 1, 3, and 7 days of culture, the characteristics of cultured murine pancreas were assayed and compared with that of pancreas in vivo. Results: The percentage of pancreatic duodenal homeobox-1 (PDX-1) and neurogenin 3 (Ngn3)-positive cells in pancreas cultured for 1 and 3 days was higher than that of pancreas at 13.5 and 15.5 days of gestation. Importantly, in comparison with embryonic pancreas in vivo, more insulin and glucagon-producing cells were developed in cultured pancreas. Furthermore, insulin was released in a regulated manner in response to glucose. The expressional kinetics of pancreatic markers of cultured pancreas was coincident with that of pancreas in vivo. Conclusions: The development of the murine pancreas cultured at the air-medium interface mimicked that of pancreas in vivo. Our simple culture system might offer the potential of a source of mature beta cells.