Reversal of diabetes by syngeneic transplantation of a radiation-induced rat insulinoma.

The growth and metabolic effects of a radiation-induced rat insulinoma were examined after subcutaneous subscapular transplantation into normal and streptozotocin diabetic NEDH rats. Streptozotocin diabetic rats exhibited hyperglycaemia, hypoinsulinaemia, impaired glucose tolerance without an insulin response, polyuria, polydipsia, hyperphagia and weight loss. Transplantation of tumour fragments gradually improved the physical and metabolic state over the following 3 weeks. Coincident with a progressive rise in plasma insulin between 10 and 17 days, the diabetic rats gained weight and reduced their food intake. The rats remained hyperglycaemic during this time, but developed hypoglycaemia with marked hyperinsulinaemia by 24 days. Furthermore, plasma glucose and insulin concentrations were not increased by an intraperitoneal glucose challenge, indicating greatly accelerated glucose clearance. Both the streptozotocin-treated and normal insulinoma-bearing rats incurred a fatal hypoglycaemic coma by 28-33 days after transplantation. Final body weights, tumour weights and concentrations of glucose and insulin were similar in the two groups. This study demonstrates reversal of streptozotocin diabetes by insulinoma transplantation. The hyperglycaemia and the accompanying diabetic environment did not modify tumour growth and development.