Effect of alloxan administration upon Channa punctatus (Bloch)

Channa punctatus, a fresh water teleost, was administered intramuscularly with alloxan in doses varying between 200 and 600 mg/kg body weight. The course of cytological events occurring in the islets of alloxanized fish was followed over a period of 120 hours post injection. Alloxan caused mild degranulation of some of the beta cells in the beginning but later nuclear pycnosis, vacuolization and necrosis of the beta cells was observed. Like other vertebrates, Channa punctatus is alloxan-sensitive and its islet beta cells are susceptible to the cytotoxic effects of alloxan.