Transgenic animal models: Insights into the regulation and maintenance of islet cell mass

The focus of several transgenic studies in recent years has been the basic physiology of the pancreatic β-cell at the molecular level and the etiology of IDDM. The ability to target expression of various molecules in the β-cell has allowed the dissection of events controlling growth and differentiation toward the specialized cells of the islet. This review briefly summarizes research involving transgenic technology that brings us closer to defining ways to circumvent the loss of insulin secreting β-cells in IDDM by regenerating tile islet mass, increasing insulin secretion from just a few β-cells, or enhancing the differentiation process to generate more insulin-producing β-cells.