Essential fatty acid deficiency prevents multiple low-dose streptozotocin-induced diabetes in naive and cyclosporin-treated low-responder murine strains

Acta Diabetol. 1995 Jun;32(2):125-30. doi: 10.1007/BF00569571.

Abstract

We have previously shown that essential fatty acid (EFA) deficiency prevents diabetes and ameliorates insulitis in low-dose streptozotocin (LDS)-treated male CD-1 mice. The effects of EFA deficiency on the incidence of diabetes after LDS treatment has not been examined in other strains. In contrast to highly susceptible CD-1 mice, several other strains of mice are only partially susceptible to LDS treatment and do not develop appreciable insulitis; however, the susceptibility of these strains can be markedly increased by cyclosporin A (CsA) pretreatment to reduce suppressor cell function. Weanling male BALB/cByJ, DBA/2J, and C57BL/6J mice were placed on EFA-deficient (EFAD) or control diets for 2 months and then divided into experimental and control groups. Ten EFAD and 10 control mice from each strain received LDS treatment (40 mg/kg/d 5 d); an additional 10 EFAD BALB/cByJ and another 10 control BALB/cByJ mice received subcutaneous CsA injections (20 mg/kg/d) for 14 days prior to and for 5 days simultaneous with LDS treatment (40 mg/kg/d 5 d). Plasma glucose levels for all mice were determined 3 times per week for 3 weeks after LDS treatment. Mean plasma glucose levels (+/- SEM) at the end of the experiment were significantly lower in the EFAD groups vs control groups in BALB/cByJ (P < 0.001), DBA/2J (P < 0.00001), and C57BL/6J (P = 0.012) mice. CsA supplementation increased the severity of diabetes in LDS-treated BALB/cByJ mice (P < 0.0005); however, EFA deficiency also prevented diabetes in CsA-supplemented BALB/cByJ mice.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Blood Glucose / metabolism
  • Cyclosporine / pharmacology*
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / blood
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / pathology
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / prevention & control*
  • Disease Susceptibility
  • Fatty Acids, Essential / deficiency*
  • Islets of Langerhans / immunology
  • Islets of Langerhans / pathology
  • Lymphocytes / pathology
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Inbred DBA
  • Mice, Inbred Strains
  • Species Specificity
  • Streptozocin
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Blood Glucose
  • Fatty Acids, Essential
  • Streptozocin
  • Cyclosporine