Prediction of Spontaneous Hereditary Diabetes Mellitus in Chinese Hamsters by Means of Elevated Alpha-2 Serum-levels

Abstract

CLINICAL and pathological observations on Chinese hamsters (Cricetulus griseus) with spontaneous hereditary diabetes mellitus have been reported previously in several papers^1–7. Generally speaking, the disease in Chinese hamsters is primarily pancreatogenic, with degranulation, hydropic degeneration and deficiency of β-cells. Other forms of pathological expression noted in symptomatic animals are glomerulosclerosis, arteriosclerosis, increased periodontal breakdown, and proneness toward the formation of adenocarcinomas of the pancreas.