Question

Alloxan treatment destroys
A: STH cells
B: Sertoli cells
C: Leydig’s cells
D: $\beta$- cells of islets of Langerhans

Answer 1

Beta cells are cells that synthesise and secrete insulin and amylin in pancreatic islets. In human islets, beta cells make $50-70\%$ of the cells. Beta-cell mass and function are reduced in Type $1$ diabetes patients, resulting in inadequate insulin secretion and hyperglycaemia. When administered to rodents and other animals, alloxan is a toxic glucose analogue that selectively kills insulin-producing cells in the pancreas in these species, this induces an insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (dubbed "alloxan diabetes") with symptoms identical to type $1$ diabetes in humans.

Complete answer:
Option A:
Alloxan has no effect on STH cells, which are cells in the anterior pituitary that secrete STH (somatotropin hormones).
So, option A is incorrect.
Option B:
Sertoli cells are large sustentacular cells that spread from the capsule to the lumen of the seminiferous tubule. They help to assist, nourish, and control the growth of spermatogenesis cells.
Option B is incorrect.
Option C:
Interstitial cells, also known as interstitial cells of Leydig, are endocrine cells that exist within seminiferous tubules. They are responsible for the production of the androgen testosterone, which is responsible for the formation of male secondary sexual characteristics
So, option C is incorrect.
Option D:
The drug "alloxan" kills cells in the islets of Langerhans. Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus is caused by the damage and death of pancreatic islet cells. It causes reactive oxygen species to form, which attack the plasma membrane, mitochondria, and DNA. The extracellular formation of superoxide anion radicals caused cellular oxidative stress when cells were exposed to alloxan and a reducing agent.
So, option D is correct.

Hence, Option D is the correct answer.

Note:
Alloxan is a toxic glucose analogue that kills the insulin-producing beta cells in the islets of Langerhans of the pancreas in a selective and irreversible manner, effectively stopping insulin secretion. Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus is caused by the damage and death of pancreatic islet cells. Alloxan is used to induce diabetes in laboratory animals because it selectively destroys the insulin-producing beta-cells found in the pancreas. Because of the compound's structural similarity to glucose and the beta-highly cell's efficient absorption system, this happens most likely as a result of selective uptake. Alloxan causes reactive oxygen species to form, which attack the plasma membrane, mitochondria, and DNA.