Endocrinology, Vol 116, 47-50, Copyright © 1985 by Endocrine Society
Cortisone fails to affect levels of islet cell surface antibodies and incidence of diabetes in the BB rat
T Dyrberg, J King, A Lernmark and JM Martin
Cortisone acetate (250 micrograms/kg X day) was given by im injections to
40 21-day-old diabetes-prone BB rats. The animals were followed
longitudinally to determine islet cell surface antibodies (ICSA), as an
expression of an abnormal immune reaction against the pancreatic islet
cells and plasma glucose to estimate the degree of metabolic control. ICSA
were detected 10-150 days before the diagnosis of diabetes. In the
cortisone-treated group the diabetic rats showed significantly higher ICSA
values compared to the nondiabetic ones, both in frequency of positive
tests (P less than 0.05) and in mean binding values (P less than 0.02). In
the control group, no difference in ICSA levels were seen between diabetic
and nondiabetic rats. The cortisone regimen also failed to influence the
degree of insulitis, commonly associated with diabetes in these rats. These
experiments in well defined animals which spontaneously develop diabetes do
not support the use of low dose cortisone treatment in attempts to improve
or prevent insulin-dependent diabetes in human subjects.
