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Windows into Diabetes
31 December 2013

Windows into Diabetes

In diabetes sufferers the insulin-producing beta cells, present in groups called islets in the pancreas, grow and multiply. Examining beta cells over time would therefore be a good indicator of diabetic status. But it’s currently very difficult to measure, as finding these cells in the pancreas is too complicated and invasive a process to perform regularly. Recently, scientists have found a convenient way to monitor these cells in mice with minimal surgery. The mouse islets are transplanted onto the eye of the mouse, where they can be clearly visualised for months. These ‘reporter’ islets mimic those in the pancreas, growing in size and reddening with an increased blood supply in diabetic mice (bottom row), but remaining the same in non-diabetic mice (top row). This could help in the development of new treatments for diabetes in mouse models, or eventually to keep an eye on diabetes in humans.

Written by Emma Saxon

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BPoD stands for Biomedical Picture of the Day. Managed by the MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences until Jul 2023, it is now run independently by a dedicated team of scientists and writers. The website aims to engage everyone, young and old, in the wonders of biology, and its influence on medicine. The ever-growing archive of more than 4000 research images documents over a decade of progress. Explore the collection and see what you discover. Images are kindly provided for inclusion on this website through the generosity of scientists across the globe.

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