Pancreatic regeneration after pancreatectomy has been well documented in the animal
models. We have recently reported that STZ diabetic animals operated for partial pancreatectomy
showed normoglycemic status after the operation as compared to uncontrolled hyperglycemia
and even death in the diabetic sham operated animals. In drug and virus-induced experimental
diabetic models there is a high mortality of animals due to uncontrolled destruction
of the β-cells. In order to destroy sufficient β-cell mass so as to induce diabetes
but prevent mortality, we designed present studies to investigate the combined effect
of pancreatectomy, nicotinamide, and streptozotocin (STZ) on diabetic status of BALB/c
mice. BALB/c mice of either sex were subjected to 50% pancreatectomy. These were then
treated with nicotinamide (350 mg/kg body weight) before and after steptozotocin (200
mg/kg body weight) administration. The changes in body weight, blood glucose levels,
serum and pancreatic insulin contents of these animals were monitored in experimental
and control group for 12 weeks, and follow up studies were made of these 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 opposed to the control group. The results indicate that
partial pancreatectomy followed by nicotinamide and streptozotocin treatment leads
to a long-lasting hyperglycemic state, depicting the clinical symptom of NIDDM without
mortality. The study probably reveals a new model for experimental diabetes.
Key words
Pancreatectomy - Nicotinamide - Streptozotocin - Hyperglycemia - Impaired Glucose
Tolerance - Experimental Diabetes
