STZ-mediated β-cell destruction.

<p>Adult C57BL/6 mice were treated with STZ at a dose of 130 mg/kg body weight via i.p. injection, monitored for the development of hyperglycemia, and sacrificed at multiple time points post-STZ. Shown here are representative data. <i>A:</i> Anti-Insulin staining of the mouse pancreases showing β-cell loss following STZ treatment. <i>B:</i> Quantitative distribution of β-cells in each islet section. The number of β-cells in each islet was counted and plotted. Each circle represents one islet. For each group (normal, and 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 days post-STZ), 26–33 representative islets from 4–5 mice were counted. The red line marks the mean value for each group. <i>C:</i> the statistical summary of β-cell distribution in islets from normal mice and STZ-treated mice. <i>D:</i> Blood glucose levels of the mice at different day post-STZ. Note: the blood glucose levels during the first 2 days were not included because STZ-induced hypoglycemia at early hours requiring a glucose injection to overcome hypoglycemia (see <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0036675#s2" target="_blank">methods</a>). <i>E:</i> Serum insulin concentrations in normal mice and those treated with STZ.