Is the Cyclosporin A Toxicity on Rat Pancreatic B-cells modulated by the MHC?

Summary

High Cyclosporin A doses (50 mg/kg b.w.) were given male Wistar rats either homozygous for RTl^a or RT1^U. Both rat strains are characterized by a similar diminished body weight gain. Cyclosporin A exerted in both strains an increased fed plasma glucose, decreased glucose tolerance and diminished pancreatic insulin content, however, the Wistar rat strain with the MHC RT1^U was more sensitive to the effect of Cyclosporin A, indicated by a more marked alteration of pancreatic B-cells and a delayed recovery after drug withdrawal. We concluded that the MHC modulated either the Cyclosporin A metabolism (degradation) or the pancreatic B-cell sensitivity to toxic damage.

Key Words

Cyclosporin A - Toxicity - Glucose Tolerance - Pancreatic Insulin Content - MHC