The effect of long-term administration of 15-deoxyspergualin (DSG) on glucose tolerance was investigated in mice.
DSG (6 mg/kg body weight/day) was given intraperitoneally in thirteen ICR adult mice for six months. The control group (n=12) was given saline only. Pancreatic endocrine function was determined by intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test (IP-GTT, 1 g/kg body weight) before and after DSG treatment. Body weights (g) after administrations were not significantly different between the DSG-and saline-injected groups (33.5±0.7 and 35.4±1.2, respectively). Plasma glucose levels in IP-GT (mg/dl) after six month's administration of DSG (0 min: 106±9, 30 min: 163±9, 60 min: 195±12) were not significantly different from those before DSG injections (97±6, 182±13, 185±15), and those in saline-injected mice (96±7, 164±9, 165±10). Immunohistochemical investigation revealed no remarkable changes in insulin-containing B cells between the DSG-and saline-injected groups.
These results suggest that the long-term administration of DSG may not have any adverse effects on glucose tolerance and may be useful as an immunosuppressant for pancreatic transplantation.
