Diabetogenic action of alloxan following temporary interruption of arterial blood flow to pancreas in rats.

Abstract

Ligation of the superior mesenteric and the superior pancreatico-duodenal arteries just prior to alloxan treatment and their release ten minutes after treatment did not protect rats against development of alloxan diabetes. Prior incubation of alloxan in vitro for a period of ten minutes at a physiological pH value and 37° C. resulted in loss of diabetogenic activity. Identical blood flow interruption without alloxan treatment did not produce elevated blood glucose levels. After the intravenous injection of alloxan, a substance giving a fluorescence product with alloxan reagent was detected in blood over four hours. The substance remained at higher levels when animals, prior to alloxan treatment, were injected with reduced glutathione. There was also a prolonged detection of alloxan during incubation in whole blood and in buffer containing reduced glutathione. The production of alloxan diabetes following temporary interruption of arterial blood flow is discussed in the light of the present results.