Streptozotocin and renal amyloidosis in the Syrian hamster.

In the Syrian hamster, administration of the drug streptozotocin was associated with an increased incidence and severity of renal amyloidosis. Some of the more severely affected animals showed a frankly nephrotic picture. Although some of the diseased animals showed decreased levels of serum albumin, no other definite changes in serum proteins were noted, nor was there any evidence of glomerular immunoglobulin or immune complex deposition. None of the lesions previously found after administration of streptozotocin in the Chinese hamster were encountered.