ALLOXAN DIABETES IN THE HAMSTER: ORGAN CHANGES DURING THE FIRST DAY1

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Abstract
During the first day post alloxan, pancreatic islets undergo transfroma-tions which are classified as: hypergranulation, areolation, degeneration and substitution. Evidence is presented to show that the primary effect of alloxan is stimulation. As blood sugar rises initially, stored glycogen is almost completely expended from the liver and, for a short time, nucelic acids are greatly reduced in hepatic cells. It is suggested that hypoglycemia is at first due to the exhaustion of liver glycogen and the release of insulin from over-active beta cells. This phase is subsequently prolonged by the continuous escape of insulin from cells which are then degenerating. By the end of 24 hours, most of the beta-cells have disappeared, to be replaced by mononuclear cells derived from the perivascular and periinsular connective tissue. Liver nucleic acids reappear earlier and approach a more nearly normal level than does liver glycogen, the latter showing a high degree of variability in that period between 9 and 24 hours. The kidney shows capillary engorgement together with tubular and capsular distention, both occurring in the first 5 minutes after alloxan. A granular and sometimes a flocculent substance appears in the lumena of some of the tubules at this early stage. Usually the kidney returns to normal between 12 and 24 hours. Neither the liver nor kidney shows evidence of degeneration during the first day.

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