Figure 3. No evidence of acinar-to-islet transdifferentiation after Ppx.

ElastaseCreERT2^Tg/+Rosa26r^+/– mice were treated with TAM for 3 weeks by subcutaneous continuous delivery pellet and subjected to 80% Ppx or sham surgery after a 1-week washout period. After surgery, mice were randomized to receive daily injections of vehicle (Veh) or Ex-4 (1 nmol/kg body wt i.p.; n = 4–5 per group). Tissues were harvested 2 weeks later and stained for β-galactosidase activity (blue stain, left panels) and insulin (red stain, middle panels). Merged images are shown in the right panels. Sections depicted are from 16-week-old mice. Additional experiments carried out in mice ranging in age from 12 weeks to 6 months failed to reveal evidence of acinar-to-islet transdifferentiation. Original magnification, ×200.