Figure 1. Glis3^Δpanc mice exhibit a loss of insulin-producing beta cells.

(A) Schematic of wild type and recombinant Glis3 allele. A conditional knockout allele for the Glis3 gene was generated in C57BL/6 mice containing loxP sites (triangles) surrounding exon 5 of Glis3. Exons 4–6 encode the DNA-binding domain (DBD). Mice were bred with a strain expressing Cre recombinase under the control of the Pdx1 promoter. (B) Random blood glucose levels of mice at 8-weeks of age. Glis3^Δpanc mice were grouped as either Euglycemic (<250 mg/dL) or Hyperglycemic (>250 mg/dL) and compared to control littermates (WT) (N=11 WT, N=5 Glis3^Δpanc euglycemic, N=4 Glis3^Δpanc hyperglycemic). Immunofluorescence staining revealed a reduction in the number of INS⁺PDX1⁺ beta cells (C) and pancreatic polypeptide⁺ cells (D), with no apparent effect on (E) glucagon or (F) somatostatin expression. Nuclei were visualized by DAPI staining. Representative images are shown. * indicates p<0.05.