Effects of streptozotocin diabetes in the rat on blood levels of ten specific plasma proteins and on their net biosynthesis by the isolated perfused liver.

Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes (6 to 8 wk duration), treated or untreated with insulin, were studied with two aims: (a) to ascertain whether protracted diabetes in the rat is associated with changes in circulating plasma protein levels analogous to those reported in human diabetic patients with clinical evidence of complications; (b) to evaluate the effects of experimental diabetes on the net cumulative biosynthesis of 10 specific plasma proteins by the isolated liver, perfused for 24 hr. Samples of liver donor plasma and samples of perfusate were analyzed by single radial immunodiffusion or by rocket immunoelectrophoresis for albumin, alpha 1-macroglobulin and the acute phase glycoproteins: fibrinogen, alpha 1-acid glycoprotein (Darcy), alpha 1-acid glycoprotein (Kawasaki), haptoglobin, alpha 2-(acute phase) globulin, hemopexin, C3-complement and ceruloplasmin. Diabetes (6 to 8 wk), untreated with insulin, resulted in significantly increased liver donor plasma levels of alpha 1-acid glycoprotein (Darcy) and alpha 1-acid glycoprotein (Kawasaki); plasma levels of hemopexin and of C3 decreased to 75% and 30% of normal, respectively.

Increased plasma IgA, sIgA, and C3- and IgA-containing immune complexes with renal glomerular deposits in diabetic rats.

Male Sprague-Dawley rats were fasted 18 h and given streptozocin (STZ; 60 mg/kg body wt i.p.).

Persistent grossly elevated plasma immunoglobulin A levels in untreated streptozocin-induced diabetic rats.

Experimental diabetes mellitus was induced in adult male and female rats by injecting streptozocin (STZ; 60 mg/kg i.p.) in preparation for a screening survey of changes in the pattern of undenatured plasma proteins, as revealed by two-dimensional (2-D) gel electrophoresis followed by silver staining.