Expression of the GALα(1–3)GAL epitope on pig islets

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(which binds to Galα(1–3)Gal residues), and anti-insulin antibody using a double staining technique. There was no significant difference in the staining patterns to sections of pancreas obtained from 5, 12 and 24 week old pigs. Vascular endothelium, connective tissue and the luminal surface of duct epithelial cells stained with BS1-B₄ in all sections; endocrine and exocrine cells did not stain. Preliminary experiments showed that lectin staining to isolated islets was inconsistent between preparations, but expression did not appear to differ significantly between ages: lectin staining of some β-cells was evident in the majority of freshly isolated preparations, but was not detectable on β-cells following tissue culture. In conclusion, expression of Galα(1–3)Gal did not differ significantly in pancreata from 5, 12 and 24 week old pigs. Preliminary experiments showed that Galα(1–3)Gal was expressed by β-cells immediately following isolation, but not after maintenance in culture.