Induction of a diabetes-like syndrome by cyclosporine in Wistar rats and its reversibility after drug withdrawal.

Cyclosporin A exerts dose- and time-related toxic effects on pancreatic B-cells. We investigated the reversibility of Cyclosporin A-induced alterations on glucose tolerance and pancreatic insulin content in Wistar rats either still normoglycaemic or animals being hyperglycaemic after different treatment periods. Both groups of animals either formerly normoglycaemic but glucose intolerant or hyperglycaemic normalized glucose intolerance, glycaemia and reenhanced pancreatic insulin content. This demonstrates that also hyperglycaemic animals are able to recover spontaneously from a diabetes-like state.