Use of pancreatic beta cells in culture to identify diabetogenic N-nitroso compounds.

Epidemiological observations suggest that environmental factors play a role in the pathogenesis of insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (1). Several chemicals have been identified as specific beta cell toxins (2-4). We report here studies to determine the feasibility of using monolayer cultures of pancreatic beta cells from neonatal rat to screen potential diabetogenic chemicals. Cytotoxicity was monitored both by phase microscopy and the release of insulin into the culture medium. In comparative studies, cellular protein and release of 51chromium (51Cr) were measured after addition of test compounds to cultures of fibroblasts derived from pancreatic tissue. The nitrosoamides 1 methyl-l-nitrosourea (MNU), 1,3 bis (2-choroethyl) nitrosourea (BCNU), chlorozotocin (CLZ), and the beta cell toxin, streptozotocin (SZ), were examined. CLZ and SZ were more toxic to pancreatic beta cells than to fibroblasts. In contrast, MNU and BCNU damaged both beta cells and fibroblasts at identical concentrations. These results suggest that in vitro techniques can be used to identify chemicals that selectively injure beta cells. Although SZ-induced toxicity was ameliorated with addition of nicotinamide to cultures of beta cells, nicotinamide did not prevent damage caused by CLZ. This observation indicates different mechanisms of drug-induced cytotoxicity.