Pancreas anatomy and surgical procedure for pancreatectomy in rhesus monkeys

Background The aim of this study was to investigate the pancreas anatomy and surgical procedure for harvesting pancreas for islet isolation while performing pancreatectomy to induce diabetes in rhesus monkeys. Methods The necropsy was performed in three cadaveric monkeys. Two monkeys underwent the total pancreatectomy and four underwent partial pancreatectomy (70–75%). Results The greater omentum without ligament to transverse colon, the cystic artery arising from the proper hepatic artery and the branches supplying the paries posterior gastricus from the splenic artery were observed. For pancreatectomy, resected pancreas can be used for islet isolation. Diabetes was not induced in the monkeys undergoing partial pancreatectomy (70–75%). Conclusions Pancreas anatomy in rhesus monkeys is not the same as in human. Diabetes can be induced in rhesus monkeys by total but not partial pancreatectomy (70–75%). Resected pancreas can be used for islet isolation while performing pancreatectomy to induce diabetes.