Induction and management of diabetes mellitus in the pig

Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus was induced in the pig by pancreatectomy or by administration of intravenous streptozotocin (150 mg/kg). High post-operative morbidity and mortality in the pancreatectomised animals made this method of inducing diabetes unsuitable for animals to be used in long term studies. By contrast, the good clinical state of animals after streptozotocin and the permanence of their diabetes indicated that these animals were suitable for long term studies such as those involving transplantation of pancreatic islet tissue. Techniques designed to facilitate the assessment and management of these animals included placement of an indwelling jugular venous catheter to enable blood samples to be obtained for metabolic studies, denervation of an area on the flank of the animal to enable insulin administration with minimum discomfort and denervation of an ear to enable blood samples to be obtained from the animal for glucose estimation in long term studies.