Figure 3.

DPD Protects Pancreatic β Cells from Dedifferentiation and Thus Enhances Proliferation and Decreases Apoptosis during In Vitro Dissociation Culture

The effects of DPD and dopamine (DA) in dedifferentiating β cells.

(A) R26-EYFP homozygote (+/+) and RIP-cre homozygote (+/+) mouse were crossed and RIP-Cre(+/−)/R26-EYFP(+/−) mice were generated.

(B) The dissociated islet cells were cultured, and applied with different chemicals on days 3–5. Dedifferentiated β (Ins^–/EYFP⁺) cells were observed in control (DMSO)-, DPD-, or dopamine-containing culture conditions, assayed on day 5. DPD treatment reduced Ins^–/EYFP⁺ dedifferentiated cells.

(C–F) DPD treatment (days 3–5) (C–E′) increased EdU (labeled on days 3–5) incorporation in Ins⁺/EYFP⁺ cells (golden bars), but not in dedifferentiated cells (Ins^–/EYFP⁺, green bars).

(G–J) DPD treatment (days 3–5) (G–I′) reduced caspase-3/7⁺ cells in Ins⁺/EYFP⁺ cells (golden bars).

Data represent mean ± SD. All data are obtained from three to four independent experiments, each with three to four replicates. ^∗∗p < 0.01, ^∗p < 0.05, Student's t test. Scale bar represents 50 μm.