VIRUS-INDUCED DIABETES IN MICE

As recently reported, a variant of the encephalomyocarditis virus can induce a diabetic syndrome in mice. Forty-six animals were inoculated and followed by urinary glucose every other day. Eighteen of 30 which survived the infection were sacrificed on the 4th, 8th, 12th, and 24th postinfection day. Six of 30 non-infected mice served as controls. The parameters measured were blood glucose, immunoreactive insulin and pancreatic insulin. Four days after inoculation hyperinsulinemia was apparent, without alteration in blood glucose or pancreatic insulin content. Hyperglycemia and glycosuria were present at 8, 12, and 24 days, associated with a reduction of pancreatic insulin. Serum insulin was significantly below control levels only at 12 days following infection. These biochemical findings support the histological evidence that a variant of the encephalomy-ocarditis virus produces pancreatic islet lesions in mice, resulting in a diabetic syndrome. © 1968.