Effect of Streptozotocin in the Chinese Hamster (Cricetulus griseus)23

Abstract

Administration of streptozotocin to adult Chinese hamsters resulted in a transient diabetic state, though no permanent islet-cell lesions were noted by light microscopy. A high incidence of hepatic lesions (toxic, hyperplastic, and neoplastic) and a low incidence of non hepatic neoplasms eventually developed. Livers of both treated animals and untreated controls showed a high incidence of nodular hyperplasia and hepatoma, but the development of these lesions in the treated group was accelerated. Biliary hyperplasia, cholangiomas, and non hepatic neoplasms (sarcomas, adenocarcinomas, and squamous carcinomas) seen in the treated animals were not present in the controls. Whether these lesions were induced directly by the drug or resulted from an accelerated degenerative process associated with the sequelae of drug treatment is unclear.