CFUs reduction and adaptation in mice with experimental diabetes.

Experimental diabetes was induced in mice by an intravenous injection of alloxan, 75 mg/kg. Bone marrow cells (8 X 10(4)) from nondiabetic or diabetic mice, 2, 14 or 30 days after induction of diabetes, were injected into lethally irradiated (850 R) nondiabetic or diabetic recipients, and the development of splenic hemopoietic colonies was determined 8 days later. In nondiabetic recipients, bone marrow cells from both types of the donors formed equal numbers of spleen colonies. In diabetic recipients, bone marrow cells from nondiabetic mice produced fewer colonies, whereas bone marrow cels from donors that had diabetes for 14 or 30 days formed as many colonies as in nondiabetic mice. Daily injections of insulin into diabetic recipients improved the colony producing capacity of nondiabetic bone marrow cells. We conclude that bone marrow stem cells (CFUs) acquire resistance to adverse metabolic conditions of hypoinsulinemia and hyperglycemia. Adapted bone marrow cells function well in either the diabetic or nondiabetic environment.