New STZ-induced Diabetes Service

JAX® NOTES Issue 507, Fall 2007

We are pleased to announce that JAX® Services is now offering a streptozotocin-(STZ-)induced diabetes service. STZ is an alkylating agent that induces pancreatic islet damage and subsequent diabetes in mice (Like and Rossini 1976). The males of various strains are differentially susceptible to STZ-induced diabetes: males of strains FVB/NJ (001800), BALB/cJ (000651), and A/J (000646) are resistant; males of strain C57BL/6J (000664) are moderately susceptible; and males of strains NOD/ShiLtJ (001976) and CBA/J (000656) are highly susceptible (Leiter et al. 1999). The new STZ-induced diabetes service is based on a multiple low dose STZ (MDSTZ) protocol developed and tested here at The Jackson Laboratory. For C57BL/6J (B6) mice, we use the following protocol:

B6 males 6 to 8 weeks old are individually identified, weighed, and their baseline glucose levels determined. They then receive daily IP injections of 50 mg STZ/kg body weight for 5 consecutive days; age-matched controls receive buffer-only injections. Because they metabolize STZ for at least 24 hours post-injection, the mice are housed in disposable cages with appropriate absorbent bedding and food and water ad libitum.

At least 24-hours after the final injection, all mice are moved to clean cages, weighed, and their glucose levels determined. They are observed daily until the 16th day after the initial injection, at which time they are weighed and their blood glucose levels determined. STZ-treated males with blood glucose levels of at least 300-400 mg/dL are deemed diabetic. Pathological analysis of treated mice indicate that the pancreatic B-islet cells are either severely depleted or totally absent.

For more information about this service, please contact JAX® Services at jaxservices@jax.org, 1-800-422-6423, or 1-207-288-5845.

References
(Author in bold is a Jackson Laboratory scientist.)

Leiter EL. 1999. In McNeill JH ed. Experimental models of diabetes. CRC Press. Boca Raton, Fla. 418pp.

Like A, Rossini A. 1976. Streptozotocin-induced pancreatic insulitis: new model of diabetes mellitus. Science 193:415-17.