Alpha- to Beta-Cell Transdifferentiation in Neonatal Compared with Adult Mouse Pancreas in Response to a Modest Reduction in Beta-Cells Using Streptozotocin.

Following the near-total depletion of pancreatic beta-cells with streptozotocin (STZ), a partial recovery of beta-cell mass (BCM) can occur, in part due to the alpha- to beta-cell transdifferentiation with an intermediary insulin/glucagon bi-hormonal cell phenotype. However, human type 2 diabetes typically involves only a partial reduction in BCM and it is not known if recovery after therapeutic intervention involves islet cell transdifferentiation, or how this varies with age. Here, we used transgenic mouse models to examine if islet cell transdifferentiation contributes to BCM recovery following only a partial depletion of BCM.

Sex-dependent Effect of In-utero Exposure to ΔTetrahydrocannabinol on Glucagon and Stathmin-2 in Adult Rat Offspring.

Objectives: Administration of Δ-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ-THC) to pregnant rats results in glucose intolerance, insulin resistance and reduced islet mass in female, but not male, offspring. The effects of Δ-THC on other islet hormones is not known. One downstream target of the cannabinoid receptor, stathmin-2 (Stmn2), has recently been shown to suppress glucagon secretion, thereby suggesting Δ-THC may also affect alpha-cell function.