Glucose intolerance and reduced islet blood flow in transgenic mice expressing the FRK tyrosine kinase under the control of the rat insulin promoter

• The FRK tyrosine kinase has previously been shown to transduce β-cell cytotoxic signals in response to cytokines and streptozotocin and to promote β-cell proliferation and an increased β-cell mass. We therefore aimed to further evaluate the effects of overexpression of FRK tyrosine kinase in β-cells. A transgenic mouse expressing kinase-active FRK under control of the insulin promoter (RIP-FRK) was studied with regard to islet endocrine function and vascular morphology. Mild glucose intolerance develops in RIP-FRK male mice of at least 4 mo of age. This effect is accompanied by reduced glucose-stimulated insulin secretion in vivo and reduced second-phase insulin secretion in response to glucose and arginine upon pancreas perfusion. Islets isolated from the FRK transgenic mice display a glucose-induced insulin secretory response in vitro similar to that of control islets. However, islet blood flow per islet volume is decreased in the FRK transgenic mice. These mice also exhibit a reduced islet capillary lumen diameter as shown by electron microscopy. Total body weight and pancreas weight are not significantly affected, but the β-cell mass is increased. The data suggest that long-term expression of active FRK in β-cells causes an in vivo insulin-secretory defect, which may be the consequence of islet vascular abnormalities that yield a decreased islet blood flow.

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β-cells

Insulin secretion

MEDICINE

MEDICIN

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