Atg7 Knockout in Murine Beta Cells

Atg7^F/F mice (C57Bl/6J background) were from Professor Masaaki Komatsu,²⁶ (link) and were backcrossed with the Balb/c mouse strain. Mice with backcross numbers over 3 were used for the study, and were compared among the littermates. RIP-Cre mice (C57Bl/6J background) were purchased from the Jackson Laboratory (Bar Harbor, ME, USA). Atg7^F/F mice were crossed with RIP-Cre mice to generate Atg7^{Δβ cell} mice (mixed background of C57Bl/6J and Balb/c). RIP-Cre littermates and Atg7^F/F littermates were used as wild-type controls. Male mice were fed standard chow diets, and were randomized into control and vildagliptin groups at 8 weeks of age. In the vildagliptin group, vildagliptin was administered via drinking water (0.3 mg/mL) for 12 weeks.^9,27 (link) The fed blood glucose levels and body weights were monitored weekly using a glucometer (One Touch, Johnson & Johnson, Milpitas, CA, USA) and standard scale, respectively. All animal experiments were conducted in accordance with the institutional guidelines of Seoul National University Hospital.