Gangliosides prevent insulitis but not islet B cell destruction in low-dose streptozocin-treated mice

High doses of gangliosides were given to low-dose streptozocin(LDS)-treated mice, in order to observe their ability to prevent diabetes in this animal model and also to look for any modification in the early histopathological lesions occurring in pancreatic islets. Cronassial, 150 mg/kg body wt., (21% GM1, 40% GD1a, 16% GD1b, 19% GT1b and 5% other) was given to 20 C57BL6/J mice in which diabetes was induced 1 week after the start of the Cronassial treatment. Data obtained from animals killed 1 and 3 weeks from the end of the LDS treatment demonstrate that gangliosides stop infiltration of the islets but do not prevent destruction of islet B cells. Therefore, inflammation is not obligatory for the development of the disease in this model. Streptozocin exerts a direct cytotoxic action of considerable importance and is able to act prolongedly on target cells. The destruction achieved is similar to that produced by administration of a single high dose even though it takes place over a longer period. Our results underline the complexity of the LDS-induced diabetic disease.