title: beta-cell function in obese-hyperglycemic mice [ob/ob Mice].
abstract: This review summarizes key aspects of what has been learned about the physiology of pancreatic islets and leptin deficiency from studies in obese ob/ob mice. ob/ob Mice lack functional leptin. They are grossly overweight and hyperphagic particularly at young ages and develop severe insulin resistance with hyperglycemia and hyperinsulinemia. ob/ob Mice have large pancreatic islets. The beta-cells respond adequately to most stimuli, and ob/ob mice have been used as a rich source of pancreatic islets with high insulin release capacity. ob/ob Mice can perhaps be described as a model for the prediabetic state. The large capacity for islet growth and insulin release makes ob/ob mice a good model for studies on how beta-cells can cope with prolonged functional stress.
authors.affiliation: Department of Integrative Medical Biology, Section for Histology and Cell Biology, Umeå University, S-901 87 Umeå, Sweden. per.lindstrom@histocel.umu.se
authors.forename: Per
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lindström
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D006943:Hyperglycemia / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D054795:Incretins / Q000378:metabolism; D007328:Insulin / Q000378:metabolism; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D050417:Insulin-Secreting Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology*; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000166:cytology; D020738:Leptin / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008820:Mice, Obese / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D008954:Models, Biological; D009991:Oscillometry / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D054795:Incretins; D007328:Insulin; D020738:Leptin; D005947:Glucose