FIGURE 3.

FEM anoxia results of two stage mega-islet cultures (95% O₂/5% CO₂; plastic surface; 37°C) from the group of Lafferty and Lacy, respectively. Prior to aggregation (Stage 1), the tissue anoxia is lower at all oxygen consumption rates but with aggregation, anoxia become significantly higher throughout the tissue given the increase in tissue geometry. The elevated pO₂ maintains non-anoxic tissue at levels approximating culture of IEQs of standard size range (50–400 μm) and seeding density. At the same time, the supra-physiological pO₂ depletes the tissue resident immune cells.