ISLET AMYLOID POLYPEPTIDE AMYLIN CONTENTS IN PANCREASES INCREASE IN GENETICALLY-OBESE AND DIABETIC MICE

To search for a possible relationship between islet amyloid polypeptid e (IAPP)/amylin and the pathophysiology of type 2 diabetes mellitus, w e examined IAPP contents in the pancreata of genetically obese and dia betic mice (C57BL/6J ob/ob and KK mice), at 24 weeks of age, using a s pecific radioimmunoassay. IAPP and insulin contents were noticeably in creased in the ob/ob mice with marked obesity and moderate hyperglycem ia. These contents slightly, but significantly increased in the KK mic e with mild obesity and hyperglycemia. Thus, IAPP production is possib ly influenced by factors coded by mutant genes and a possible relation ship between IAPP and hyperglycemia in the strains of mice deserves fu rther attention.