Hyperglycemia following p-hydroxymercuribenzoate administration to mice

p-Hydroxymercuribenzoate (PMB) administration to fed mice induced transient hyperglycemia of a few hours' duration, and an increase in mitochondrial volume and pyroantimonate precipitation in the cytoplasmic ground substance of the pancreatic islet B-cells, whereas the secretory granules were unaffected. No significant blood glucose elevation or any obvious structural alterations were observed in starved mice treated with PMB. The serum inorganic phosphate concentration was unaffected in fed mice but decreased in starved mice 10 min after PMB injection, and increased in both fed and starved mice 2 h following PMB treatment, whereas the hydrogen ion concentration was increased in both fed and straved mice 10 min after PMB administration. Mitochondrial and ionic alterations, and possible inhibited insulin release may play a role in the development of hyperglycemia in PMB-treated mice.