Expression of c-Jun in pancreatic islet $\alpha$-cells of nonobese diabetic(NOD) mice

This is the first report of c-Jun protein expression and mRNA in a pancreatic islet in a nonobese diabetic(NOD) state mice. In this experiment NOD mice with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus type I at age 16 weeks(n=7) just before death(n=4) were used. The control group consist of prediabetic NOD(8 weeks n=7) and ICR(8 weeks n=7 and 16 weeks n=7) mice. c-Jun positive cells in the pancreatic islet of NOD mice were localized in the same positions as a-glucagon producing cells. immunoreactivity was negative in the prediabetic NOD(8 weeks) and ICR(8 weeks and 16 weeks) mice. The number of c-Jun positive cells in mice with severe diabetic state just before death were significantly decreased when compared to NOD(16 weeks) mice. Expression of c-Jun in mRNA level was assessed by RT-PCR method. The levels of mRNA in NOD(16 weeks) mice group were elevated in total pancreatic tissues. The present results suggest that the induction of proto-oncogene protein may be of significance in assessing cell specific injury and may play a functional role between pancretic islet $\alpha$-cells and $\beta$-cells in the diabetic state.