title: Diabetes induced in male transgenic mice by expression of human H-ras oncoprotein in pancreatic beta cells.
abstract: Transgenic mice expressing an insulin-promoted H-ras hybrid gene in pancreatic beta cells developed beta-cell degeneration and diabetes. The disease was manifested in male mice by hyperglycemia, glycosuria, and reduced plasma insulin levels, which appeared around 5 months of age and led to premature death. Histological analyses revealed large holes within the islets of Langerhans and a reduced number of beta cells. The destruction of the islets was not associated with an obvious inflammatory activity. Ultrastructural analysis showed extensive engorgement in the endoplasmic reticulum of the residual beta cells from diabetic males. The females carrying the insulin-promoted ras gene did not manifest any of the physiological abnormalities observed in males and showed only minor histological and ultrastructural changes, even at much greater ages.
authors.affiliation: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, New York 11724.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Efrat
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Fleischer
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hanahan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D011905:Genes, ras; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007328:Insulin / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D010957:Plasmids; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics*; D016283:Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras); D012016:Reference Values; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms
chemical_list: D007328:Insulin; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; C501009:HRAS protein, human; D016283:Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras)