Opposite effects of two metal-chelators on alloxan-induced diabetes in mice

Alloxan diabetes may be mediated by an iron-catalyzed formation of hydroxyl radicals. The iron chelators desferrioxamine and diethylenetriaminepentacetic acid (DETAPAC) which inhibit hydroxyl radical formation $\text{in vitro}$ were tested against alloxan diabetes in mice. DETAPAC inhibited while desferrioxamine stimulated the hyperglycemic response to alloxan. The diverging treatment results are discussed.