Diabetogenic effects of N-nitrosomethylurea with special regard to species variations

The effect of N-nitrosomethylurea on the blood-glucose and the pancreatic islet light microscopic picture was studied in the Chinese hamsters, golden hamsters, guinea pigs, mice, rats and sand rats. The Chinese hamsters were most susceptible. Only in this species did a dose of 50 mg/kg body weight cause blood-glucose elevations and pancreatic islet damage. At a dose of 100 mg/kg body weight of N-nitrosomethylurea, blood-glucose elevations were recorded in the golden hamster together with damage to the islets and the exocrine pancreatic parenchyma. A toxic dose of 200 mg/kg body weight resulted in hyperglycemia and islet cell destruction in the rat and in slight alterations in the islets of mice. N-nitrosomethylurea was non-diabetogenic to guinea pigs and sand rats. The ethyl derivate of nitrosourea was less toxic and diabetogenic to the Chinese hamsters in comparison with the methyl derivate.