Difference in glucose intolerance between C57BL/6J and ICR strain mice with streptozotocin/nicotinamide-induced diabetes.

Blood glucose and plasma insulin levels between C57BL/6J and ICR strain mice with nicotinamide (NA) and streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes were compared to establish a suitable strain of the experimental diabetic mouse model. The mice were intraperitoneally treated twice with STZ (100 mg/kg) 15 min after injection of NA (120 mg/kg) at a 1-day interval, and non-fasting blood glucose level was then weekly monitored for 5 weeks. The blood glucose level in ICR mice gradually increased and was about 2-times higher than that in C57BL/6J mice at the end of the observation. The plasma insulin level in ICR mice was comparatively low, compared with that in C57BL/6J mice. ICR mice were also markedly glucose-intolerant when oral glucose tolerance test was performed. These results indicate that ICR strain is more sensitive than C57BL/6J strain as a mouse model with NA/STZ-induced mild diabetes.