title: The immunosuppressant FK506 inhibits the damage to mouse pancreatic islets induced by low dose streptozocin.
abstract: Diabetes mellitus was induced in 40 male C57BL6 mice by injection of a low dose of streptozocin (45 mg/kg body weight) on 5 consecutive days. Twenty four of the mice were immunosuppressed by administration of 1.5 mg FK506/kg body weight daily for 10, 15, 18 and 24 days. Administration of FK506 almost completely inhibited the streptozocin-induced islet damage, and consequently glycaemia remained normal. In FK506-treated animals any inflammatory infiltrate was very sparse and was limited to the vascular pole of the islets. Immunocytochemical results demonstrated that infiltrating cells were Ia-immunoreactive, but were not activated. Ultrastructural observations confirmed the absence of B cell necrosis and degranulation in FK506-treated mice; the few infiltrating elements encountered did not contain phagocytic vesicles or show other signs of activation.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Anatomy, School of Medicine, 2nd University of Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Papaccio
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Latronico
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Chieffi Baccari
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000473:pathology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004347:Drug Interactions; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D013311:Streptozocin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016559:Tacrolimus / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D013311:Streptozocin; D016559:Tacrolimus