ZINCSULPHATE INDUCED METALLOTHIONEIN IN PANCREATIC-ISLETS AND PROTECTED AGAINST THE DIABETOGENIC TOXIN STREPTOZOTOCIN

In mice, autoimmune diabetes can be induced with multiple low doses of streptozotocin (MLD-STZ). Specific T cell-dependent immune reactions and non-specific inflammatory damage induced by reactive oxygen specie s (ROS) are involved in the pathogenesis of MLD-STZ diabetes. Metallot hionein (MT) can be significantly (P < 0.05) induced with ZnSO4 in pan creatic islets in vivo and in vitro. In vitro, preincubation of isolat ed islets with ZnSO, prevented STZ-induced loss of beta-cell-function and in vivo, intraperitoneal pretreatment with ZnSO, prevented MLD-STZ -induced diabetes. It is proposed that ZnSO4-induced MT rescued beta-c ells by scavenging STZ-generated hydroxyl-radicals ((OH)-O-.). (C) 199 8 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.