THE INABILITY OF A DIABETOGENIC VIRUS TO INDUCE DIABETES MELLITUS IN ATHYMIC (NUDE) MICE

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Abstract
The effect of a known diabetogenic M-strain encephalomyocarditis (EMC)-virus in athymic nude mice (lacking the thymus-dependent lymphocyte system), and in heterozygous littermates and homozygous normal mice of the background strain (C57/B16) was investigated. By 3 wk, 4 of 4 surviving virus-inoculated littermates and 9 of 9 inoculated normal mice developed diabetes mellitus; none of the 7 surviving virus-inoculated nude mice became diabetic. Virus was isolated from all inoculated animals, including non-diabetic nude mice. It is probably the response of the thymus-dependent lymphocyte system evoked by the virus rather than the virus itself that leads to damage of the insulin producing cell.