EFFECT OF LONG-TERM TREATMENT WITH COMPLETE FREUND ADJUVANT ON KK-AY MOUSE, A MODEL OF NON-INSULIN-DEPENDENT DIABETES-MELLITUS

Nonspecific stimulation with immunoadjuvants significantly improves gl ucose tolerance in animal models for non-insulin-dependent diabetes me llitus (NIDDM). In this study, we observed the effect of long-term tre atment with complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) on serum factors and hist ology of various organs in KK-Ay mice with NIDDM. The mice were inject ed with CFA weekly or every 2 weeks for 12 weeks. Glucose tolerance wa s significantly improved in the CFA-treated mice throughout the experi ment. At the end of the experiment, hypertriglyceridemia was significa ntly reduced, but serum total protein, glutamic pyruvic transaminase, creatinine, and nonfasting insulin levels were not changed by the trea tment. Fatty change of the liver and index of glomerular lesions of th e kidney were significantly inhibited in the CFA-treated mice, whereas the pancreatic islet morphology remained unchanged. No toxic effect w as observed by the CFA treatment. These results imply that the novel t reatment with CFA could control NIDDM and inhibit the development of d iabetic glomerular lesions in KK-Ay mice. (C) 1997 Academic Press.