ABSTRACT
AIM:To study the function of pancreatic ? cells in the R6/2 transgenic mouse of Huntington's disease(HD),and to elucidate the pathogenetic mechanisms underlying diabetes mellitus in transgenic mice of HD. METHODS:By using the R6/2 transgenic mouse model of HD,fasting blood glucose and fasting insulin concentration in plasma of normal and HD mice were detected. Further,HE staining and immunofluorescence technique were used for morphometric analysis of islets in normal and HD mice. RESULTS:In contrast to normal mouse,R6/2 HD mouse showed hyperglycemia and hypoinsulinemia in fasting state. Pancreatic islets morphology showed that islets atrophied and cell number decreased in HD mouse. Poor functional index was observed in these mice,but insulin resistance index was normal. CONCLUSION:Impaired function of pancreatic cells may be the key factor contributing to the pathogenesis of diabetes in the R6/2 transgenic mouse model of HD.