Cyclosporin prevents diabetes in BB Wistar rats.
Cyclosporin (U.S.A.N. cyclosporine) was used prophylactically to suppress the development of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus in BB Wistar rats. In this rat strain diabetes spontaneously develops between 60 and 120 days of age and this condition resembles human type 1 diabetes. In 30 (75%) out of 40 control rats glycosuria and hyperglycaemia developed and these rats became insulin-dependent. Their pancreases showed partial to complete destruction of the islets of Langerhans by lymphocytic infiltration. None of the 40 cyclosporin-treated rats became diabetic and their pancreases were histologically normal. Serum cyclosporin was monitored in a subgroup and the dosage was adjusted accordingly; neither hepatotoxicity nor nephrotoxicity was seen in the treated animals.
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D003524:Cyclosporins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D006029:Glycosuria / Q000175:diagnosis; D007328:Insulin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains
D003524:Cyclosporins; D007328:Insulin