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Updated: Mar 1, 2026
Leprdb Mouse Model of Type 2 Diabetes: Pancreatic Islet Isolation and Live-cell 2-Photon Imaging Of Intact Islets
Published on: May 11, 2015
Standardized Mori ramulus extract improves insulin secretion and insulin sensitivity in C57BLKS/J db/db mice and
Soo-Yeon Park1, Bora Jin1, Jae-Ho Shin2
1Department of Nutritional Science and Food Management, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, 03760, Republic of Korea.
Abstract:
Abnormalities in the hyperbolic relationship between insulin sensitivity and insulin secretion may cause oxidative stress and non-enzymatic glycation, resulting in an increased risk of type 2 diabetes. Here, we performed a 14-week study to investigate the effects of ethanolic extract of Mori ramulus (MRE; 0, 800, and 1600mg/kg body weight) and its signature component oxyresveratrol (OXY; 800mg/kg body weight) on β-cell dysfunction and insulin resistance in C57BLKS/J db/db mice fed with a high-fat diet. Compared with the diabetic control group, the high-dose MRE group showed a significant decrease in fasting blood glucose (p=0.0024); a significant increase in insulin secretion as measured by insulin (p=0.0012) and C-peptide (p=0.0103) levels in plasma and insulin content (p=0.0440) and homeobox factor-1 protein expression (p=0.0148) in the pancreas; and a significant increase in insulin sensitivity as measured by insulin receptor mRNA expression in the liver (p=0.0179) and adipose tissue (p=0.0491). In addition, improvements in the reactive oxygen species level and inflammatory pancreatic and hepatic tissue damage were also observed in the MRE group as assessed by histological findings. A similar but weaker effect was found in the OXY group. Furthermore, we observed a potentiating effect of MRE and OXY on insulin secretion in INS-1 cells in the presence of 27mM glucose, together with an anti-glycation effect as indicated by methylglyoxal-trapping capacity and inhibition of advanced glycation end-product formation. Taken together, these data suggest that MRE could ameliorate β-cell dysfunction and insulin resistance by reducing oxidative damage and advanced glycation end-product (Wagenknecht et al., 2003) formation and that these effects are due, at least in part, to OXY.
Insights
Ethanolic extract of Mori ramulus (MRE) and oxyresveratrol (OXY) improve insulin resistance and beta-cell dysfunction in diabetic mice. MRE reduces oxidative stress and glycation, offering potential for type 2 diabetes management.
Area of Science:
- Metabolic disorders
- Pharmacology
- Natural product research
Background:
- Insulin resistance and beta-cell dysfunction are key in type 2 diabetes pathogenesis.
- Oxidative stress and non-enzymatic glycation contribute to diabetes development.
- Mori ramulus extract (MRE) and oxyresveratrol (OXY) are investigated for their potential therapeutic effects.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of MRE and OXY on beta-cell dysfunction and insulin resistance in a mouse model of type 2 diabetes.
- To assess the impact of MRE and OXY on oxidative stress and glycation markers.
- To explore the potential of MRE and OXY as therapeutic agents for type 2 diabetes.
Main Methods:
- A 14-week study using C57BLKS/J db/db mice fed a high-fat diet.
- Administration of ethanolic extract of Mori ramulus (MRE) at 0, 800, and 1600mg/kg and oxyresveratrol (OXY) at 800mg/kg.
- Assessment of fasting blood glucose, plasma insulin and C-peptide, pancreatic insulin content, and insulin receptor mRNA expression.
- Histological examination for oxidative stress and inflammation, and in vitro studies on INS-1 cells for insulin secretion and glycation inhibition.
Main Results:
- High-dose MRE significantly decreased fasting blood glucose and increased plasma insulin and C-peptide levels.
- MRE significantly enhanced pancreatic insulin content and homeobox factor-1 expression, and insulin receptor mRNA expression in liver and adipose tissue.
- MRE treatment improved reactive oxygen species levels and reduced pancreatic and hepatic inflammation, with similar but weaker effects observed for OXY.
Conclusions:
- MRE effectively ameliorates beta-cell dysfunction and insulin resistance in diabetic mice.
- The therapeutic effects of MRE are attributed to the reduction of oxidative damage and advanced glycation end-product formation, partly due to oxyresveratrol.
- MRE and OXY demonstrate potential as natural therapeutic agents for managing type 2 diabetes.
