A novel effect of selenium on streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice.

The effect of oral administration of sodium selenite on glucose homoeostasis was studied in male Swiss albino mice 6 weeks after they were made diabetic with streptozotocin. Diabetes caused hyperglycaemia (2.5-fold), a marked decrease (4.5-fold) in liver glycogen, a 4-fold increase in the glucose-6-phosphatase activity and significant decrease in plasma insulin levels and protein kinase activity. Although selenium administration in control animals showed no significant effect on various parameters measured, selenite treatment of diabetic mice restored these parameters to near control values. Thus the results show insulin-like in vivo action of selenium in diabetic mice.