FIGURE 2.

Generation of Pdx1-CreERT; EGFR^fx/fx mice. A, EGFR was specifically targeted and depleted in pancreatic β cells in Pdx1-CreERT; EGFR^fx/fx transgenic mice. In these mice, the expression of CreERT is driven by the Pdx1 promoter, but the recombinase stays in the cytoplasm. In the presence of tamoxifen, CreERT translocates into the nucleus and deletes exon 3 of the EGFR gene, leading to early termination of translation. B and C, EGFR levels in mouse islets were determined 2 weeks after tamoxifen injection in Pdx1-CreERT; EGFR^fx/fx mice, and control Pdx1-CreERT and control EGFR^fx/fx mice, by RT-qPCR (B, p < 0.05), and by Western blotting analysis (C, p < 0.05). D, mouse body weight. n = 5. All results were mean ± S.E. *, p < 0.05. NS, no significance.