Insulin was initially extracted by ligating the pancreatic duct of dogs, waiting for the acini to degenerate, and then isolating the islets.
The Early Extraction Process
Frederick Banting, an orthopedic surgeon, conceived the idea of isolating pancreatic islet extracts in a specific way. The process involved the following steps:
- Ligating the Pancreatic Duct: The pancreatic duct of dogs was surgically tied off. This procedure aimed to cause the acini (the cells that produce digestive enzymes) to degenerate over time. (16-Jul-2012)
- Waiting for Acinar Degeneration: The dogs were kept alive, allowing time for the acinar cells to degenerate. The goal was to eliminate these cells, leaving behind the islets of Langerhans, which produce insulin. (16-Jul-2012)
- Islet Isolation: Once the acinar cells had sufficiently degenerated, the islets of Langerhans could be more easily isolated and their extracts obtained. (16-Jul-2012)
This method provided a way to obtain insulin extracts from the pancreas, paving the way for further research and eventual treatment for diabetes.