TUMORIGENIC ACTION OF STREPTOZOTOCIN ON PANCREAS AND KIDNEY IN MALE WISTAR RATS

Abstract

Pancreatic islet cell tumors were induced in 38 of 44 male Wistar rats (86%), which survived 9-14 mo. following various treatment schedules. A single i.v. injection of streptozotocin alone, 30, 40, 50 or 65 mg/kg of body wt produced adenomas of pancreatic islet cells in 8 of 9 (89%), 6 of 7 (86%), 2 of 4 (50%) and 1 of 2 rats (50%), respectively. The neoplasms were seen in all 8 rats given a single i.p. injection of picolinamide, 250 mg/kg of body wt, 15 min before a single i.v. injection of streptozotocin, 65 mg/kg of body weight, 13 rats (95%) developed pancreatic islet cell tumors. Renal tumors were seen in only 3 rats treated with streptozotocin and nicotinamide. None of the rats used in this study developed hepatic tumors. Streptozotocin, even in a dose of 30 mg/kg of body wt, has an exceedingly marked tumorigenic action on the rat pancreas, while it has little effect on the kidney and no effect on the liver.