Protective effect of 4,6-O-ethylidene glucose against the cytotoxicity of streptozotocin in pancreatic β cells in vivo: indirect evidence for the presence of a glucose transporter in β cells
ABSTRACT Ethylidene glucose (4,6-O-ethylidene glucose; EG) is known to bind the outer surface of the glucose transporter in the membranes of human erythrocytes and other mammalian cells. If a glucose transport system is present on pancreatic β cells and recognizes the glucose moiety of streptozotocin (STZ), EG should protect β cells from the cytotoxicity of STZ when it is administered with STZ. This possibility was examined in in-vivo experiments in rats. When EG and STZ were injected into rats together the animals did not become diabetic, as judged by (1) their blood glucose levels, (2) response in a glucose-tolerance test, and (3) insulin secretion in response to feeding. These results suggest that there is a glucose transporter present in β cells and also the transport of streptozotocin into β cells through this system. J. Endocr. (1987) 112, 375–378