Improvement in glucose tolerance of diabetic dogs after implantation of neonatal pancreatic fragments.

Minced neonatal pancreatic tissue from 3-6 canine littermates was placed in the peritoneal cavity of five alloxan diabetic dogs without separation of endocrine and exocrine tissue. Fasting blood glucose levels declined from a preimplant level of 211 +/- 57 mg/dl to 111 +/- 6 mg/dl. The maximum blood glucose following a glucose challenge declined from 387 +/- 26 mg/dl to 175 +/- 37 mg/dl. These levels were slightly higher than the 92 +/- 6 mg/dl fasting and 140 +/- 34 mg/dl maximum obtained in control dogs. Insulin levels before implant ranged from 6 to 11 microU/ml and showed no response to a glucose challenge. Insulin responses to a glucose challenge after implant were variable. Three of the dogs showed some hyperinsulinemia without hypoglycemia. Another dog showed a delayed insulin response of normal magnitude. Improvement in glucose tolerance lasted for 2-6 weeks. These results indicate that neonatal tissue can survive and function within the peritoneal cavity. It was not necessary to obtain isolated islets to achieve hormone secretion. However, additional purification may be needed to decrease the side effects of acinar enzymes.

Case study of a diabetic dog with chronic membranous glomerulopathy treated with continuous intraperitoneal insulin infusion.

The purpose of this study was to determine the use of continuous intraperitoneal insulin infusion over an extended period (in maintaining metabolic control) and to evaluate the benefits of this treatment in reversing the kidney pathology of a chronic diabetic dog with membranous glomerulopathy. Hyperglycemia was eliminated, but reevaluations of the insulin infusion pattern were necessary. An initial kidney biopsy revealed fusion of the foot processes, thickening of the basement membrane, and subendothelial deposition. After 5 months of infusion, there was less fusion of the foot processes and a decrease in the subendothelial deposition. Urinary protein loss decreased from 17.3 g/day to 625 mg/day after 2 months of infusion. The dog gained weight, muscle wasting was reversed, and his stamina returned while on continuous insulin infusion. The reduction of a life-threatening urinary protein loss to a tolerable level and the improvement in the microscopic kidney lesions observed indicate that this treatment with insulin infusion may be beneficial in the management of long-term diabetic dogs, affected with advanced kidney lesions secondary to diabetes.