GENE-EXPRESSION OF PANCREATIC GLUTAMIC-ACID DECARBOXYLASE IN THE NONOBESE DIABETIC MOUSE

The 65 kDa isoform of glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD 65) is an autoa ntigen implicated in type I diabetes. We have developed a quantitative PCR method to measure GAD 65 mRNA in the pancreas of nonobese diabeti c (NOD) mice. Two other nonautoimmune mouse strains were used as contr ols. In all mice, pancreatic GAD 65 expression declined with age. In 5 -week-old NOD mice, a clear difference was detected between males and females. This sexual dimorphism may explain the absence of tolerance t o GAD 65 in the NOD female which could contribute to autoimmune destru ction of beta cells in the pancreas and subsequent development of diab etes. (C) 1996 Academic Press, Inc.