title: Spontaneous diabetes mellitus in the BB/W rat. Effects of glucocorticoids, cyclosporin-A, and antiserum to rat lymphocytes.
abstract: Combination immunosuppression therapy with long-acting glucocorticoids, cyclosporin-A, and antiserum to rat lymphocytes (ALS) reduced the severity of spontaneous diabetes among BioBreeding/Worcester rats and decreased the frequency of diabetes in susceptible littermates. Combination therapy with glucocorticoids and three injections of ALS reversed hyperglycemia in a significant number of acutely diabetic animals. These results strengthen the hypothesis that autoimmunity plays a role in the pathogenesis of diabetes in these animals and increase our understanding of the requirements of treatment protocols for the prevention and cure of this spontaneous syndrome.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000961:Antilymphocyte Serum / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001786:Blood Glucose; D003524:Cyclosporins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000662:veterinary; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy; D008775:Methylprednisolone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000077555:Methylprednisolone Acetate; D051381:Rats; D012376:Rodent Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D000961:Antilymphocyte Serum; D001786:Blood Glucose; D003524:Cyclosporins; D000077555:Methylprednisolone Acetate; D008775:Methylprednisolone