IS THE DIABETOGENIC EFFECT OF STREPTOZOTOCIN IN PART THYMUS‐DEPENDENT?

Abstract
Following a single injection of 200 mg streptozotocin/kg body weight, 25 of 25 normal mice became diabetic; 12 (20%) of 59 athymic nude mice did not develop diabetes. In a multiple dosage experiment, where the same total dose was given over a 5 day period, 14 normal and 15 athymic nude mice all became diabetic, but nude mice had significantly lower blood glucose values. A thymus dependent immune reaction may be, in part, responsible for the diabetogenic effect of streptozotocin.