Factors affecting the beta-cell sensitivity to alloxan in vivo. Influence of pre- and post-treatment with protective substances.

Blood glucose and pancreatic islet morphology were studied in mice subjected to different kinds of treatment both before and after alloxan administration. d-Glucose, d-mannose, d-fructose, NaHCO3 and sodium lactate protected against alloxan when given before, but not when given after alloxan, whereas l-leucine protected when administered before, and also when injected 1 or 3 min after alloxan. No protection was seen in animals receiving l-leucine 10 min following alloxan. The findings may indicate that the mechanism for alloxan protection by l-leucine differs from that of the other compounds tested.