Fig. 6. Beta cell survival following glucose or serum deprivation. Incubation of MIN6 beta cells with 5.5 mmol/l glucose (Glu) for 48h increased caspase 3/7 activity, which was abolished by co-incubation with SST14 (panel A). Ddit3 mRNA expression was not upregulated by 48h incubation with 5.5 mmol/l glucose compared to 2% FBS control treatment, however, Ddit3 levels were increased by 48h incubation in 2% FBS with or without 5.5 mmol/l glucose compared to 10% FBS controls (panel B). Pre-treatment with SST14 (48h) reduced mRNA expression under both conditions (panel B). To investigate the effect of serum deprivation on MIN6 beta cell survival, cells were exposed to decreasing concentrations of fetal bovine serum (FBS) for 20 or 48h and apoptosis assessed (panel C and D, n=8). Panel A-B: ***P<0.001 treatment vs control, ^∆P<0.05, ^∆∆P<0.01, ^∆∆∆P<0.001 SST14 vs control. Panel C-D: *P<0.05 vs control media containing 10% FBS, (one way ANOVA and Bonferroni's multiple comparisons test). Panel A: data representative of three separate experiments, panel B: mean ± SEM of three separate experiments.