STEROID DIABETES IN GUINEA PIGS: EFFECTS OF HYDROCORTISONE ADMINISTRATION ON BLOOD AND URINARY GLUCOSE, NITROGEN EXCRETION, FAT DEPOSITION, AND THE ISLETS OF LANGERHANS1

Abstract

Male guinea pigs with free access to food, receiving hydrocortisone acetate twice daily by subcutaneous injection, develop a steroid diabetes which is characterized by pronounced hyperglycemia and glycosuria, reduced gain of body weight, greatly increased food intake, moderate obesity, and excess loss of nitrogen. Islets of the pancreas show marked hypertrophy, new beta cell formation and degranulation, followed, after prolonged administration of the steroid, by severe hydropic degeneration. The most effective dosage to induce a steroid diabetes was found to be 5 mg of hydrocortisone given twice daily. Higher dosages produce frequently a loss of appetite and disappearance of the diabetes. A pronounced effect of hydrocortisone on the kidney threshold was observed. Although the diabetic condition was maintained up to more than 4 months, at which time the administration of the steroid was terminated, a permanent diabetes could not be induced.