Streptozotocin
Streptozotocin
Streptozotocin (pronunciation: strep-toe-zoe-toe-sin), also known as STZ, is a naturally occurring alkylating agent used in medical research to produce an animal model for Type 1 diabetes. It is particularly toxic to the insulin-producing beta cells of the pancreas in mammals.
Etymology
Streptozotocin is derived from Streptomyces achromogenes, a strain of soil-dwelling bacteria from which the compound was first isolated in the 1950s. The name "Streptozotocin" is a combination of the genus name Streptomyces and "azotocin", referring to its nitrogen-containing structure.
Usage
In medical research, streptozotocin is used to induce Type 1 diabetes in lab animals, particularly rats and mice. It does this by damaging the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas, leading to a decrease in insulin production and subsequent increase in blood glucose levels.
Related Terms
- Alkylating agent: A type of chemical that is used in cancer treatment and medical research. Alkylating agents work by damaging the DNA of cells, which prevents them from dividing and growing.
- Beta cells: Cells in the pancreas that produce and release insulin, a hormone that regulates the amount of glucose in the blood.
- Type 1 diabetes: A chronic condition in which the pancreas produces little or no insulin, a hormone needed to allow sugar (glucose) to enter cells to produce energy.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Streptozotocin
- Wikipedia's article - Streptozotocin
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