Measurements of Insulin Secretory Capacity and Glucose Tolerance
to Predict Pancreatic β-Cell Mass In Vivo in the
Nicotinamide/Streptozotocin Göttingen Minipig, a Model of
Moderate Insulin Deficiency and Diabetes    1. Marianne O.
Larsen1,   2. Bidda Rolin1,   3. Michael Wilken2,   4. Richard
D. Carr1 and   5. Carsten F. Gotfredsen3   1. 1Department of
Pharmacological Research I, Novo Nordisk A/S, Bagsvaerd, Denmark
2. 2Department of Assay and Cell Technology, Novo Nordisk A/S,
Bagsvaerd, Denmark   3. 3Department of Histology, Novo Nordisk
A/S, Bagsvaerd, Denmark       Knowledge about β-cell mass and/or
function could be of importance for the early diagnosis and
treatment of diabetes. However, measurement of β-cell function
as an estimate of β-cell mass is currently the only method
possible in humans. The present study was performed to
investigate different functional tests as predictors of β-cell
mass in the Göttingen minipig. β-cell mass was reduced in the
Göttingen minipig with a combination of nicotinam