Effects of streptozotocin-induced type 1 diabetes mellitus on total protein concentrations and cation contents in the isolated pancreas, parotid, submandibular, and lacrimal glands of rats.

This study investigated the effect of streptozotocin (STZ)-induced type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM) on total protein concentration and levels of sodium (Na+), potassium (K+), magnesium (Mg2+), zinc (Zn2+), copper (Cu2+), calcium (Ca2+), and iron (Fe2+) in the pancreas, parotid, submandibular, and lacrimal glands of the rat, compared to age-matched control animals. Protein concentrations were measured by the Bradford Assay, whereas levels of Na+, K+, Mg2+, Zn2+, Cu2+, Ca2+, and Fe2+ were measured by flame photometry and atomic absorbance spectrophotometry. The results show marked changes in the characteristics of diabetic and control animals.