Previous observations in heat-shocked pig islets revealed the ambivalent character of the stress response simultaneously inducing processes of protection and apoptosis. To clarify whether the proapoptotic character of the stress response is reduced in heat-exposed islets still embedded in their native environment, hyperthermia was performed in the present study either as whole body hyperthermia (WBH) prior to pancreas resection or as in vitro heat shock (HS) after isolation. HS (42 degrees C/...