Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Models in Mice and Rats

Streptozotocin (STZ) is an antibiotic that produces pancreatic islet β-cell destruction and is widely used experimentally to produce a model of type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). Detailed in this unit are protocols for producing STZ-induced insulin deficiency and hyperglycemia in mice and rats. Also described are protocols for creating animal models for type 2 diabetes using STZ. These animals are employed for assessing the pathological consequences of diabetes and for screening potential therapies for the treatment of this condition.