Figure 7.

Smad3 deficiency promotes β cell proliferation in cultured islet cells. (A) Smad3KO or WT islet cells were cultured for 72 h with BrdU labeling in the last 24 h. Double immunostaining detects BrdU⁺ insulin⁺ β cells. Scale bar, 100 μm. (B) Quantitation of BrdU⁺ insulin⁺ β cells. (C) Western blot analysis of PCNA expression in cultured islet cells. Each dot represents one randomly selected field and data are expressed as mean ± SD for 5 independent studies. **p < 0.01 compared with Smad3WT islet culture. Scale bar, 100 μm.