Deletion of Ascl1 in Pancreatic β-Cells Improves Insulin Secretion, Promotes Parasympathetic Innervation, and Attenuates Dedifferentiation during Metabolic Stress

To determine the role of Achaete-scute homolog 1 (Ascl1) in metabolic-stress induced β-cell failure, researchers generated pancreatic β-cell-specific Ascl1 knockout mice and assessed β-cell function and gene expression in response to a normal diet, metabolic stress, and excitotoxic stress.