Genetically diabetic mice (C57BL/KsJ-db/db) were used as a model to study the development of defects of insulin secretion in relation to common metabolic indicators (body weight, serum glucose and insulin, and islet insluin contant). Consistent with the idea of a protective effect of oestrogen on the pancreatic beta-cell, the female diabetic mice survived longer than the males. In males, while serum insulin decreased in the later stages of the disease, serum glucose increased progressively with age. Perfusion of the diabetic pancreases revealed a rise and subsequent fall with age of the basal insulin released at 3 mM glucose. Despite previous reports of beta-cell hyperplasia, progressive impairment of the insulin response to 20 mM glucose, or to 20 mM glucose and 1 mM 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine, was seen with increasing age in experiments with perfused pancreas or microdissected islets. Islet content of insulin also decreased progressively with age in the diabetic animals.