Characterisation of Streptozotocin Induced Diabetes Mellitus in Swiss Albino Mice

2 Abstract: The present study was designed to investigate the characteristics of diabetes mellitus induced by different doses of Streptozotocin in mice as assessed by blood glucose concentration. Swiss albino mice of either sex were intraperitoneally administered single dose of Streptozotocin 180 mg/kg, or 100 mg/kg and multiple low dose of Streptozotocin 40 mg/kg/day. A single injection of Streptozotocin 180 mg/kg was found to produce Type 1 (insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus) and multiple low dose Streptozotocin 40 mg/kg Type 2 (non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus). However, Streptozotocin 100 mg/kg failed to produce diabetes mellitus except a sustained hyperglycemia. Blood glucose concentrations were measured at every week after Streptozotocin injection. Multiple low doses of STZ 40 mg/kg, i.p. to mice for five consecutive days have been found suitable model to study long term complications of diabetes.