Streptozotocin is a naturally occurring chemical that is particularly toxic to the insulin-producing beta cells of the pancreas in mammals. It is used in medicine for treating certain cancers of the Islets of Langerhans and used in medical research to produce an animal model for Type 1 diabetes in large dose as well as Type 2 diabetes with multiple low doses.
Streptozotocin is a glucosamine-nitrosourea which is commonly used to induce experimental diabetes in animals.1,2 It specifically targets beta cells, entering via the glucose transporter GLUT2 and causing alkylation of DNA.3,4 DNA damage induces activation of poly ADP-ribosylation, depletion of cellular NAD+ and ATP, and formation of superoxide radicals, leading to the destruction of beta cells.1 The effectiveness of STZ depends on the level of GLUT2 expression, which in turn may be influenced by age, sex, strain, or species.2,5