Figure 2.

Smad3 deficiency protect against beta cell loss in db/db mice. (A) Representative images of H&E staining showing pancreas islet morphology differences at 20 weeks of age. Scale bar, 50 μm. (B) Average islet numbers per mm² pancreas area at 8, 20 and 32 weeks of age (More than 6 whole pancreas sections were quantified per group). (C) Representative images of immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining against insulin in the pancreatic section to show the islet β cells. Scale bar, 5 mm. (D) Quantification of β cell mass in pancreas normalized to bodyweight. Each dot represents one animal. Data are mean ± S.E.M. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001 compared between groups as indicated. Statistical analysis was performed by one-way ANOVA, followed by multiple comparisons. (E) Representative images of IHC staining showing Smad3 hyperactivation (nuclear translocation) in S3WT-db/db islet. Scale bar, 50 μm.