Pancreatic islet circulation in relation to the diabetogenic action of streptozotocin in the rat.

A possible relationship between pancreatic islet blood flow (IBF) and the diabetogenic action of streptozotocin (STZ) has been investigated in rats injected ip with saline, glucose, propranolol, phentolamine, yohimbine, or adrenaline. A low dose (25 mg/kg BW) of STZ was given iv 10 min later, and serum glucose concentrations were determined after 3 and 7 days. Measurements of IBF were performed in separate experiments with a microsphere technique 10 min after injection of the drugs. Administration of phentolamine, glucose, or yohimbine was followed by overt diabetes, whereas animals injected with saline, adrenaline, or propranolol failed to become diabetics. Blood flow measurements showed an increase in IBF 10 min after the injection of glucose or propranolol, while there were no significant effects of the other drugs. It is concluded that changes in IBF are of minor importance for the action of agents modulating the diabetogenic effect of STZ. However, the potentiated hyperglycemic effects by glucose, phentolamine, or yohimbine in combination with STZ seemed to coincide with increased insulin secretion, as reflected by elevated serum insulin concentrations at the time of STZ administration.