Seeing is believing: How the MIP-luc mouse can advance the field of islet transplantation and β-cell regeneration

Abstract

In the last five years, bioluminescence has emerged as a vital tool in the non-invasive quantification of β-cell mass following islet transplantation in murine models. The successes achieved in bioluminescence imaging in islet transplantation has prompted its use in the discipline of β-cell regeneration. Employing bioluminescence permits quantifying changes in β-cell mass in an individual mouse over time, which can provide valuable insights into the kinetics of β-cell regeneration. © 2010 Landes Bioscience.