Diabetes mellitus caused by pancreatitis in a bull

This paper describes a 6-year-old Simmental bull with diabetes mellitus. Th e animal was referred to our clinic because of severe weight loss and chron ic indigestion. Clinical examination revealed markedly disturbed general co ndition, impaired forestomach function and polyuria. There was aciduria, gl ucosuria and ketonuria. The most important biochemical findings were severe hyperglycemia, markedly increased activities of hepatic enzymes and severe metabolic acidosis. Plasma concentrations of insulin, insulin-like growth factor-I, thyroxine and 3,5,3'-triiodothyronine were lower than normal, whe reas those of glucagon were higher than normal. Based on these findings, a diagnosis (secondary) diabetes mellitus was made. The bull was slaughtered and histological examination revealed mixed cell pancreatitis with severe d egeneration of islet cells. Immunohistochemical examination of the pancreas showed that very few insulin-, glucagon-, somatostatin- and pancreatic pol ypeptide, insulin-like growth factor-I and adrenomedullin-producing islet c ells were present.