Protective Role of Nuclear Factor E2-Related Factor 2 against Acute Oxidative Stress-Induced Pancreatic β-Cell Damage

Figure 5

Deficiency of Nrf2 results in reduced expression of antioxidant genes and sensitization to H₂O₂-induced damage in isolated mouse islets. (a) Nrf2−/− islets exhibit reduced expression of antioxidant genes. Total RNA was extracted from isolated islets that were cultured for 48 hrs. . versus Nrf2+/+ islets. (b) Representative images of cultured islets that have been exposed to 50 μM H₂O₂ for indicated time. The islets were examined by an Olympus SZX7 Zoom Stereomicroscope (4x). (c) Count of intact islets left following H₂O₂ exposure as shown in (b).

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