We investigated the effects of facteur thymique serique (FTS), a thymi
c peptide hormone, on alloxan- and streptozotocin-induced diabetes in
rats. Pretreatment with intravenous injection of FTS significantly sup
pressed both alloxan- and streptozotocin-induced hyperglycemia. The ef
fects of FTS were time dependent. FTS suppressed hyperglycemia in a do
se range of 1-6600 mu g/kg. Alloxan-induced hyperglycemia was complete
ly prevented when FTS was injected in doses of 40-50 mu g/kg 1 min bef
ore injection of alloxan. Histological examination of islet areas show
ed that alloxan-induced destruction of beta-cells was inhibited by FTS
. FTS had no significant effects on lymphocyte subsets and immunity-re
lated cells or on plasma superoxide dismutase activity and total gluta
thione level. The blood half-life time of exogenously injected FTS was
short (2-3 min), indicating acute internalization of FTS into pancrea
tic beta-cells. Our results suggested that FTS acutely and directly bl
ocks some initial effect of alloxan, preventing the destruction of bet
a-cells.