Role of digitalis-like substance in experimental insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus hypertension

Hypertension is frequently associated with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, but the mechanism of the hypertension is unknown. An animal model of insulindependent diabetes mellitus hypertension could be helpful in determining the mechanism, but experimental insulindependent diabetes mellitus has been infrequently and irregularly associated with hypertension. In an attempt to develop a dependable model of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus hypertension, we studied seven series of rats receiving either streptozotocin, surgical reduction of renal mass, or both. We found that superimposing streptozotocin 65 mg/kg body weight on 25% reduced renal mass regularly produced insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus and low-renin volume-expanded hypertension and that the animals remained healthy and hypertensive for as long as followed (13 weeks)