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Abstract
The platelet-activating factor inhibitor BN50730, a hetrazepine, was injected intraperitoneally daily from 30 days of age into diabetes-prone BB rats. While 96% (22123) Tween 80 injected control rats developed diabetes, 0.05 mg/kg BN50730 decreased the frequency to 72% (17/24;n.s.) and 0.5 mg/kg to 56% (14125;p <0.01). Mean onset age in controls was 81 ± 9 days (mean ± SD), but BN50730 delayed onset to 87 ± 15 days in the low and 93 ± 12.days (p <0.01) in high dose rats. The relative degree of insulitis was reduced in both low (p <0.01) and high (p <0.05) dose treated groups. Serum insulin in young prediabetic controls decreased from 84±34 μU/ml to 38 ± 20 in the 22 rats developing diabetes (p <0.001). Serum insulin in BN50730-protected compared to unprotected rats was 114±49 and 32±22 (p <0.001) in the low, and 91 ± 4 6 and 21 ± 15 (p <0.001) μU/ml in the high dose group, respectively. Increased serum insulin correlated with preserved islet β cells and decreased insulitis. Treatment did not affect thyroiditis. Thus, platelet-activating factor may be involved in insulitis pathogenesis and platelet-activating factor inhibitors may decrease autoimmune β cell destruction.