OBSERVATIONS SUR LE DIABETE STEROIDE EXPERIMENTAL DU RAT

Abstract

Into 70 rats, weighing about 200 gm., fed a diet containing 4 g. of carbohydrates per day, were injd. 5 or 10 mg. cortisone daily during nearly 1 mo. The animals were divided into 4 groups, in order to-study additional factors such as thyroid, hypophysis, or sex hormones. Glycosuria, glycemia, glucose tolerance, and insulin sensitivity were studied before, during, and at the end of hormonal treatment. Cortisone admn. was followed by a transitory diabetes, characterized by rising glycemia, lessened glucose tolerance, and marked re- sistance to insulin. In 14 cases, cortisone induced glycosuria. Histological examination of the pancreas showed no degenera-tion, but on the contrary, hyperplasia of beta-cells with trans-formation of acinar into insular cells.