Ciamexon in the low dose streptozotocin induced diabetes of mice.

ABSTRACT

This article is concerned with suppression of the development of diabetes experimentally induced by multiple injections of subdiabetogenic doses of streptozotocin (4 x 45 mg/kg/d) in mice (CD 1 and C57B16). Streptozotocin injections were followed by hyperglycemia and mononuclear cell infiltration of islets (insulitis). Ciamexon is a new immuno-modulating agent with promising effects in experimental models of autoimmune diseases and practically no toxic side effects. When Ciamexon was given before streptozotocin treatment blood glucose levels in the parenteral glucose tolerance test were suppressed in a dose dependent way. 60 days after streptozotocin application the percentage of islets showing insulitis or even necrosis was reduced in the Ciamexon treated group compared to the streptozotocin only group. In contrast, Cyclosporin A had a detrimental effect on diabetes in this model although blood levels were proved to be in the therapeutic range. From these results we conclude that Ciamexon should be tested for its effect in human type I diabetes.