db/db Mice Exhibit Features of Human Type 2 Diabetes That Are Not Present in Weight-Matched C57BL/6J Mice Fed a Western Diet

Figure 10

Markers of dedifferentiation are present in islets of db/db, but not weight-matched WD-fed mice. (a) Immunofluorescent analysis of islets from weight-matched WD-fed mice (top row) and db/db mice (bottom row) showing Nkx6.1 (red), insulin (green), and DAPI (blue). In the merged image, note the loss of double-positive nuclei (DAPI plus Nkx6.1; purple color) in the db/db mice but not in the WD-fed mice. (b) Expression of the Aldh1a3 gene in islets isolated from mice fed a WD for 4 or 12 weeks normalized to mice fed a control diet compared with db/db mice at 8 weeks of age (normalized to lean db/+ controls). versus both WD groups by one-way ANOVA. (c) Staining for Aldh1a3 protein (red) and insulin (green) in islets from weight-matched WD-fed mice (20 weeks on diet) versus db/db mice (14 weeks of age).

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