FIG. 6.

GLP-1 and HGF/NK1 gene transfer increases β-cell mass and insulin secretion in db/db mice. A: β-Cell mass was evaluated as described in Research Design and Methods. B: The average numbers of islets in db/db mice did not differ significantly among any of the three treatments. Data are presented as the mean ± SEM of at least two sections per mouse, n = 10 mice per group. C: ELISAs performed on serum from treated mice revealed a significant increase in circulating insulin levels in db/db mice treated with dsAAV–NK1. The increased insulin after dsAAV–GLP1 administration was not statistically significant (P = 0.054). D: Intraperitoneal insulin tolerance tests performed at the time of treatment (4 weeks of age) and 10 weeks post-treatment (14 weeks of age), as described in Research Design and Methods, indicate insulin resistance at each time point. *P < 0.05; **P < 0.01.