Streptozotocin- and alloxan-diabetes in mice

Abstract

In non-fasted albino (NMRI) mice intravenous diabetogenic doses were 200 mg/kg body weight of streptozotocin or 70 mg/kg of alloxan monohydrate. Differences in diabetes development were as follows. Maximal blood glucose levels during the phase of acute hyperglycaemia were observed 120 min after streptozotocin and 45 min after alloxan injection. Liver glycogen was depleted more slowly after streptozotocin than after alloxan. Tolbutamide given 5 or 60 min following streptozotocin injection clearly affected the blood sugar response. Elevated plasma insulin levels were found during the hypoglycaemic phase following injection of either drug. Plasma insulin and blood glucose levels were poorly correlated following streptozotocin treatment in contrast to findings in alloxan treated animals. Streptozotocin hypoglycaemia was more severe than alloxan hypoglycaemia. During the chronic hyperglycaemia the blood glucose levels were relatively stable within individuals following diabetes induction by means of either drug but there were large individual variations. However, alloxan-diabetic mice resumed and surpassed their original body weight with time, streptozotocin-diabetic animals did not. Both types of diabetes were normally sensitive to exogenous insulin. Streptozotocin-diabetes appeared to be irreversible. It is concluded that the development and chronic state of diabetes in mice following streptozotocin and alloxan, respectively, are not identical.