Persistence of residual beta cells and islet autoimmunity during increasing duration of diabetes in NOD mice and experimental approaches toward reversing new-onset disease with bioactive peptides.

The precise fate of beta cells and the presence of islet infiltrates after onset of type 1 diabetes have not yet been fully characterized. Recently we showed that in newly diabetic NOD mice an appreciable number of beta cells remain. This was also observed during the first 2 weeks of diabetes in NOD mice without treatment with insulin.

Presence of residual beta cells and co-existing islet autoimmunity in the NOD mouse during longstanding diabetes: a combined histochemical and immunohistochemical study.

During type 1 diabetes, most beta cells die by immune processes. However, the precise fate and characteristics of beta cells and islet autoimmunity after onset are unclear. Here, the extent of beta cell survival was determined in the non-obese diabetic (NOD) mouse during increasing duration of disease and correlated with insulitis.