The Role of Estrogen and ER Stress in Glycemic Regulation in the Sexually Dimorphic TALLYHO/JngJ Mouse Model of Diabetes

The global incidence of diabetes mellitus is increasing, causing a heavy burden on health care management and costs. Sex differences in the incidence and prevalence of diabetes mellitus do exist, with premenopausal women being protected from developing this disease, compared to men or postmenopausal women. The mechanisms underlying these differences are not yet known and experimental animal models can significantly advance our understanding of these processes. In this study we characterized a mouse model of polygenic type 2 diabetes, the TALLYHO/JngJ mouse, which shows sexual dimorphism in blood glucose regulation. Male TALLYHO/JngJ mice develop chronic hyperglycemia by 5 weeks of age, while females remain normoglycemic. We analyzed the role of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and the activation of the unfolded protein response (UPR) in the development of hyperglycemia in this mouse model. Additionally, we evaluated the effect of estrogen depletion in female TALLYHO/JngJ mice through ovariectomies. Ovariectomized female mice and males become chronically hyperglycemic (fasting blood glucose threshold >15 mM) and show significantly increased expression of GRP78/GRP94, markers of the adaptive unfolded protein response (UPR). GADD153/CHOP, a marker of the apoptotic UPR, is significantly increased in ovariectomized female mice. Treatment with a chemical chaperone 4-PBA, an ER stress alleviator, improves but does not normalize blood glucose levels in male and ovariectomized female TALLYHO/JngJ mice. Together, these findings support a protective role for estrogen and identify the UPR as a pathway through which estrogen may maintain pancreatic beta cell health.