Alloxan and streptozotocin (STZ) are widely used to induce experimental diabetes in animals through destruction of beta-cells of the pancreatic islets. In addition, alloxan cytotoxic activity may affect many other types of cells leading to damage of some internal organs. However, there is lack of information about the direct effect of STZ. This experiment was undertaken to compare the effect of alloxan and STZ action on the basis of selected metabolic parameters (glucose, free fatty acids, triglycerides, and ?-amino nitrogen), insulin concentration and activity of some enzymes in blood serum in rats. 75 mg/kg b.w. of alloxan or STZ were administrated intravenously. Rats were sacrificed 30 min after injection and their blood serum was sampled for analysis. Changes in the analysed parameters after alloxan and STZ treatment were not identical. Alloxan evoked a dramatic rise in blood glucose, increased activity of gluthatione peroxidase and diminished AlAT/AspAt ratio, while STZ did not reveal such effects. These results indicate that STZ seems to be more selective agent inducing experimental diabetes because, contrary to alloxan, does not reveal cytotoxic influence on the other tissues, especially on liver cells.

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