Testosterone effect on experimental diabetes mellitus in encephalomyocarditis (EMC) virus infected mice.

A diabetes mellitus-like disease occurs in male DBA/2 mice infected with the M variant of the encephalomyocarditis virus. Female mice of this strain sustain systemic infection, but rarely exhibit hyperglycaemia. The diabetogenic effects of the virus were studied in 3 groups of adult DBA/2 males-castrates, castrates treated with testosterone, and sham-operated controls. After infection, pancreatic insulin concentrations decreased precipitously to approximately 10% of control values in intact males and castrates treated with testosterone; hyperglycaemia occurred concomitantly in both groups. In contrast, untreated castrates failed to develop hyperglycaemia and the effect on the insulin content of the pancreas was less striking.