We previously reported that apolipoprotein M (apoM) expression is reduced in ob/ob mice. Whether such a reduction is specific for this model or is a more general phenomenon in diabetes models is not known. In the present study, we therefore investigated apoM expression and secretion in NMR1 mice tendered diabetes through administration of alloxan (120 mg/kg). Plasma glucose levels were markedly increased and plasma insulin levels markedly reduced at 3 days after alloxan. At the same time, that plasma apoM concentrations were decreased by 70%, apoM mRNA levels in liver was decreased by 40%, and apoM mRNA in kidney was decreased by 20% in alloxan-treated mice compared to saline-injected controls. Furthermore we found also that daily sc administration of insulin (51U/kg per day) increased plasma apoM levels, and apoM mRNA levels in liver and kidney. We therefore conclude that apoM is reduced in this diabetes model and that exogenous insulin administrations partially reverses the abnormal apoM expression. Based on these results, we suggest that insulin regulates apoM synthesis in vivo and, therefore, that the reduction of apoM expression is a general phenomenon in diabetes models. (c) 2006 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.