Opposite effects of two metal-chelators on alloxan-induced diabetes in mice

Alloxan diabetes may be mediated by an iron-catalyzed formation of hydroxyl radicals. The iron chelators desferrioxamine and diethylenetriaminepentacetic acid (DETAPAC) which inhibit hydroxyl radical formation in vitro were tested against alloxan diabetes in mice. DETAPAC inhibited while desferrioxamine stimulated the hyperglycemic response to alloxan. The diverging treatment results are discussed.