Optical imaging of pancreatic beta cells in living mice expressing a mouse insulin I promoter-firefly luciferase transgene.
We generated transgenic mice expressing firefly (Photinus pyralis) luciferase (luc) under the control of the mouse insulin I promoter (MIP). The mice have normal glucose tolerance and pancreatic islet architecture. The luciferase-expressing beta cells can be readily visualized in living mice using whole-body bioluminescent imaging. The MIP-luc transgenic mice may be useful for monitoring changes in beta cell function or mass in living animals with normal or altered metabolic states.
Park
Soo-Young
SY
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, The University of Chicago, Chicago , Illinois, USA. sooyoung@uchicago.edu
Wang
Xiaoyu
X
Chen
Zhongyi
Z
Powers
Alvin C
AC
Magnuson
Mark A
MA
Head
W Steven
WS
Piston
David W
DW
Bell
Graeme I
GI
D000818:Animals; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D050417:Insulin-Secreting Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D049409:Luciferases, Firefly / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D049408:Luminescent Agents / Q000032:analysis*; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic / Q000235:genetics*; D011384:Proinsulin / Q000235:genetics*; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D019076:Transgenes / Q000235:genetics
D049408:Luminescent Agents; D011384:Proinsulin; D049409:Luciferases, Firefly