Is the diabetogenic effect of streptozotocin in part thymus-dependent?

Following a single injection of 200 mg streptozotocin/kg BW, 25 out of 25 normal mice became diabetic, whereas 12 ( = 20%) out of 50 athymic nude mice did not develop diabetes. In a multiple dosage experiment, where the same total dose was given over a 5 days period, 14 normal and 15 athymic nude mice all became diabetic, but nude mice had significantly lower blood glucose values. These results support our previous suggestion that a thymus dependent immune reaction is, in part, responsible for the diabetogenic effect of streptozotocin.