Effects of first-line diabetes therapy with biguanides, sulphonylurea and thiazolidinediones on the differentiation, proliferation and apoptosis of islet cell populations.

Our data suggest that metformin and rosiglitazone attenuate the depletion of the β-cell pool in the streptozotocin-induced diabetes, whereas tolbutamide exacerbates the β-cell apoptosis, but is likely to protect β-cells from chronic hyperglycaemia by directly elevating insulin secretion.