RECTIFICATION OF DIABETIC STATE IN C57BL KSJ-DB/DB MICE BY THE IMPLANTATION OF PANCREATIC BETA-CELL LINE MIN6/

C57BL/KsJ mice carrying homozygous db/db mutation (db/db mice) are cha racterized by extreme obesity and early onset of hyperglycemia. In an attempt to rectify diabetes of these mice, a pancreatic beta cell line MIN6, which retains glucose-inducible insulin secretion, was transpla nted subcutaneously into the back of the mice. Glucose and insulin lev els of individual mice were examined biweekly and their weight gain we ekly. All mice were sacrificed at 100 days after the transplantation o f MIN6 cells. In db/db mice that had received MIN6 cells, blood insuli n levels were restored and blood glucose levels were reduced to those of non-diabetic mice, although they remained obese. Glucose tolerance test suggested that transplanted MIN6 cells responded to loaded glucos e as beta cells of non-diabetic mice. Immunohistochemical study showed that transplanted MIN6 cells produced insulin. Fatty liver associated with diabetes mellitus observed in db/db mice was not found in the MI NG cell-transplanted mice. Implication of the results is discussed wit h reference to potential therapies for severe diabetes.