The Pancreatic Islet Cell Characterization Kit (SCR045) provides a convenient set of validated antibodies that allows researchers to reliably identify mature pancreatic islets cells. Along with antibodies generated against discrete hormones secreted by alpha, beta, delta and gamma cells of the pancreatic islets, the kit includes PDX-1 (pancreatic duodenal homeobox gene-1), a master regulator of islet cell development and GLUT-2, a glucose transporter present in beta-islet cells. The pancreas functions as both an exocrine and endocrine organ. Exocrine functions include the secretion of digestive enzymes (trypsinogen, chymotrypsinogen, pancreatic lipase, and amylase) from pancreatic acinar cells into the gastrointestinal tract. Endocrine functions occur within small clusters of heterogeneous cells, called the islets of Langerhans that are dispersed throughout the pancreatic tissue.