Histological Changes in Pancreatic Islets of Animals with Experimental Diabetes Caused by Xanthurenic Acid under Condition of Suppression of Its Endogenous Synthesis.

Long-term administration of pyridoxine to rats kept on a diabetogenic diet stimulating endogenous synthesis of xanthurenic acid resulted in minimal glycemia, less pronounced decrease in insulin content in β-cells, and more intensive excretion of xanthurenic acid with urine. Histological changes were observed in 23% pancreatic islets, whereas in rats not treated with pyridoxine, destruction and necrosis of 40-45% β-cells were found in 38% of studied islets.