Mice hemizygous for this "MIP-GFP" transgene are viable, fertile, normal in size and do not display any gross physical or behavioral abnormalities. These transgenic mice express Green Fluorescent Protein under the control of mouse insulin 1 promoter. Fluorescence is detected in tissues where insulin I is normally expressed; fluorescent protein expression in pancreatic beta-cells is evident from embryonic day (E)13.5 through adult. The human growth hormone sequence in the transgenic insert enhances expression of the EGFP but is not expressed.
The donating investigator reports NOD transgenic female mice develop insulitis and autoimmune diabetes at a similar rate and kinetics as female wildtype controls, 62% and 58% respectively, while surprisingly, transgenic males develop insulitis and diabetes at a higher rate than male wildtype controls, 65% and 10% respectively. This transgenic MIP-GFP mouse strain is useful in studies of diabetes and pancreatic beta islet cell biology.
In an attempt to offer alleles on well-characterized or multiple genetic backgrounds, alleles are frequently moved to a genetic background different from that on which an allele was first characterized. It should be noted that the phenotype could vary from that originally described. We will modify the strain description if necessary as published results become available.
