Obtaining a mouse model of streptozotocininduced type 1 diabetes mellitus

Abstract

Objective: to obtain a stable mouse model of type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) using streptozotocin (STZ), which has a toxic effect on pancreatic beta cells.Materials and methods. Experiments were performed on 30 white non-diabetic male mice of the SHK colony, which were injected intraperitoneally with STZ at a dose of 200 mg/ kg by two methods: 15 animals (group 1) once and 15 animals (group 2) intermittently – 5 consecutive days at 40 mg/kg per day.Results. In group 1, one mouse died after 2 days due to hypoglycemic coma, 4 mice developed hyperosmolar hyperglycemia (>33.3 mmol/l), 3 mice had spontaneous remission of diabetes, and 7 mice had stabilized hyperglycemia at levels close to 20 mmol/l. In group 2, only one mouse showed spontaneous remission of diabetes, while the remaining 14 animals showed stable diabetes with average hyperglycemia levels moderately above 20 mmol/L until the end of the 4-week follow-up. A histological study of the pancreas of these animals confirmed the destructive effect of STZ on islets in the form of mass death of insulin-producing β-cells.Conclusion. Split-dose intraperitoneal injection of STZ provides a stable experimental T1DM in 93% of laboratory mice.

Keywords

• diabetes mellitus
• streptozotocin
• glycemia