New Hypotheses for the Mechanisms of Streptozotocin and Alloxan Inducing Diabetes Mellitus

TL;DRAbstract

We propose new hypotheses for the mechanisms of streptozotocin (STZ) and alloxan inducing experimental diabetes in animals. STZ is transported into pancreatic beta cells through glucose transporter in the cell membranes and attacks mitochondria. Mitochondrial ATP generation is inhibited and the resulting high concentration of intracellular ADP causes its degradation providing hypoxanthine, a substrate of xanthine oxidase (XOD) whose activity is intrinsically very high in beta cells. Then, XOD-catalyzing reaction is proceeded as proved by increased formation of uric acid and O2- radicals are produced, but beta cells are inefficient to scavenge these radicals because of their extremely low activity of superoxide dismutase. On the other hand, STZ directly activates XOD and enhances O2- generation. Consequently, pancreatic beta cells are dually suffered from O2- radicals or probably hydroxyl radicals derived from the former when exposed to STZ. Allopurinol, an inhibitor of XOD, can protect

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