Figure 1. Aldefluor+ cells are detected in the islets of pregnant mice.

(A) Representative flow cytometry analysis of aldefluor fluorescence in the bone marrow cells (+/− treatment with a specific ALDH inhibitor DEAB) and isolated islets from pregnant mice 9 days after pregnancy (G9), compared with non-pregnant mice (G0). While no aldefluor+ cells were detected in G0 islets, aldefluor+ cells (circled) were readily detected in the islets from G9 islets. (B) Isolated G9 aldeflouor+ cells were immunostained positive for ALDH. (C) Quantification of aldefluor+ cells in the islet fraction from pregnant mice at 3, 6, 9, 12, 15 and 18 days after pregnancy (G3, G6, G9, G12, G15 and G18, respectively). These data show that in the mouse pancreas, islet cells upregulate ALDH activity during pregnancy. SSC: side-light scatter. *: p<0.05.