S. Kurup et Rr. Bhonde, Combined effect of nicotinamide and streptozotocin on diabetic status in partially pancreatectomized adult BALB/c mice, HORMONE MET, 32(8), 2000, pp. 330-334
Pancreatic regeneration after pancreatectomy has been well documented in th
e animal models, We have recently reported that STZ diabetic animals operat
ed for partial pancreatectomy showed normoglycemic status after the operati
on as compared to uncontrolled hyperglycemia and even death in the diabetic
sham operated animals. In drug and virus-induced experimental diabetic mod
els there is a high mortality of animals due to uncontrolled destruction of
the beta-cells. In order to destroy sufficient beta-cell mass so as to ind
uce diabetes but prevent mortality, we designed present studies to investig
ate the combined effect of pancreatectomy, nicotinamide, and streptozotocin
(STZ) on diabetic status of BALB/c mice. BALB/c mice of either sex were su
bjected to 50% pancreatectomy. These were then treated with nicotinamide (3
50 mg/kg body weight) before and after steptozotocin (200 mg/kg body weight
) administration. The changes in body weight, blood glucose levels, serum a
nd pancreatic insulin contents of these animals were monitored in experimen
tal and control group for 12 weeks, and follow up studies were made of thes
e animals for further 12 weeks, It was found that there was a drastic loss
of body weight, decreased serum and pancreatic insulin levels coupled with
sustained and low levels of hyperglycemia in the experimental group as oppo
sed to the control group. The results indicate that partial pancreatectomy
followed by nicotinamide and streptozotocin treatment leads to a long-lasti
ng hyperglycemic state, depicting the clinical symptom of NIDDM without mor
tality. The study probably reveals a new model for experimental diabetes.