SPONTANEOUSLY DIABETIC WISTAR RAT (THE BB RAT) - SIGNIFICANCE OF TRANSIENT GLYCOSURIA

Abstract

A longitudinal study of 13 rats with transient and intermittent episodes of glycosuria was undertaken, to further characterize the BB diabetic syndrome. Chemical diabetes (normal fasting glycemia, abnormal GTT [glucose tolerance test]) was observed in 5 rats, accompanied by the same dramatic insulitis previously reported in this syndrome, in 2 of the 3 pancreases examined. Progression from chemical to overt diabetes occurred in 1 of these rats. Two other patterns of presentation were observed. Periods of complete remission occurred in 4 rats with diabetes considered sufficiently severe to warrant previous treatment with insulin. Four additional rats with previous glycosuria (untreated) showed no abnormalities on follow-up. It was not known whether hyperglycemia accompanied the glycosuria in these rats, and renal glycosuria was not excluded. The BB diabetic syndrome exists in not only the overt and chemical forms, but may also present with transient glycosuria, followed by a variety of subsequent progressions.