Splenectomy enhances sensitivity of islets to STZ in mice

AIM: To explore the protective role of spleen in damage of islet beta cells induced by streptozotocin (STZ).METHODS: Splenectomy in mice was performed by surgery. Sixty splenectomy mice were divided into 3 groups as the mice were intraperitoneally injected with STZ at doses of 80 mg/kg or 160 mg/kg, and saline, respectively. Sixty normal mice (without splenectomy) were also grouped and treated as above for controls. One week later, fasting blood glucose and serum insulin were monitored,and beta cell mass and the apoptosis of islet cells were analyzed by the methods of immunohistochemistry and ELISA, respectively. The content of reactive oxygen species was determined by the method of luminol-enhanced chemiluminescence.RESULTS: Compared to the normal control mice, the concentrations of fasting blood glucose significantly increased, and serum insulin reduced in splenectomy mice treated with STZ at the dose of 80 mg/kg. Moreover, beta cell mass decreased, enrichment factor of nucleosomes of islet apoptotic cells and reactive oxygen species produced in pancreas tissues significantly increased in splenectomy mice treated with STZ at the dose of 80 mg/kg.CONCLUSION: Splenectomy increases the sensitivity of islets to STZ in mice by increasing the production of reactive oxygen species in pancreas.