Comparison of streptozotocin and alloxan-induced diabetes in the rat,including volumetric quantitation of the pancreatic islets

Summary Diabetes was induced in rats with equal molar dosages of either streptozotocin or alloxan. The clinical course of the diabetes (mortality, hyperglycemia, weight loss, polydipsia, hyperphagia, polyuria, glycosuria and diabetic indices) was recorded for six weeks before the animals were sacrificed for volumetric quantitation of the pancreatic islets. No significant differences in the pancreas (islet volumes of pancreas; beta, alpha and non-granular cell volumes and vessel volumes of both islet and total pancreas) were seen between the two groups, although differences in the clinical parameters were observed. The diabetic index at three and four weeks post injection was the clinical parameter which best reflected the terminal pancreatic beta cell volume. Analysis of the scanning data adds further empirical support for the accuracy of the linear scan method of quantitation.Supported by USPHS Training Grant No. GM 114.