DIMETHYLTHIOUREA REDUCES PANCREATIC ISLET-CELL DAMAGE IN DBA 1 SUCKING MICE WITH REOVIRUS TYPE-2 INFECTION/

Reovirus type 2 (Reo-2) infection in DBA/1 sucking mice causes pancrea tic islet-cell destruction, which results in a diabetes-like syndrome. To investigate the role of reactive oxygen species (ROS), the protect ive effect of dimethylthiourea (DMTU) was examined, this substance bei ng an effective scavenger of hydroxyl radicals.,The degree of cellular infiltration in and around pancreatic islets was the same in mice rec eiving either virus only or virus and DMTU. The latter had no effect o n (I) the number or type of white blood cells, (2) lymphocyte function -associated antigen 1-alpha-positive splenocytes, or (3) viral multipl ication in the pancreas. However, treatment with DMTU inhibited the el evation of blood glucose concentrations and reduced pancreatic islet-c ell damage (beta-cell degranulation and necrosis). These results sugge st that ROS play a role in the pathogenesis of Reo-2-induced diabetes- like syndrome. (C) 1997 W.B. Saunders Company Limited.