Improved β cell function in transgenic Sst-Cre::Pax4-OE mice. (A) 2-mo-old transgenic and controls were challenged with glucose (intraperitoneal glucose tolerance tests). Strikingly, transgenic mice displayed an improved glucose clearance with a lower peak in glycemia and a faster recovery to euglycemia. The relative area under the curve (AUC) confirmed this improved glucose tolerance in 2 mo-old Sst-Cre::Pax4-OE animals. (B) Upon insulin tolerance tests (ITTs), glycemia levels of 2-mo-old transgenic and matched controls were monitored. Transgenic mice exhibited unaltered glycemia levels indicative of a normal insulin sensitivity. AUC were indeed similar in both groups. The relative AUC values are expressed as a percentage relative to the mean AUC of the controls. All values are depicted as mean ± SEM of n = 5 independent animals. Statistical analyses were performed using the Mann–Whitney test (**, P < 0.01; *, P < 0.05; ns, P > 0.05).