Date of Award
2006
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science
Program
Physiology
Supervisor
Dr. Rennian Wang
Abstract
Islet transplantation is a potential cure for diabetes. To overcome the limited availability of transplantable islets, finding factors which promote survival and differentiation of precursor cells into beta-cells is essential. One potential factor is c-Kit receptor tyrosine kinase (c-Kit). This research examined morphology and function of pancreatic beta cells in c-Kitw'v mutant mice, which have nonfunctional c-Kit. At 8-weeks, the male c KitW-v/ mice showed high fasting blood glucose levels and became glucose intolerant which was associated with low levels of plasma insulin concentration after glucose stimulation. Morphometric analysis revealed that both islet- and beta-cell mass were significantly reduced in the male c-KitW-v/ mice, which paralleled the reduction of the pancreatic insulin content as well as Pdx-1 and insulin gene expression. These changes were not observed in female c-KitW-v/t mice up to 40-weeks of age. In conclusion, lack of a functional c-Kit receptor affects beta-cell mass and disrupts beta-cell development and function.
Recommended Citation
Ayazi, Farzam, "DEVELOPMENT AND FUNCTION OF PANCREATIC BETA-CELLS IN C-KITwv MUTANT MICE" (2006). Digitized Theses. 5013.
https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/digitizedtheses/5013
