Alloxan is a hydrophilic and unstable substance. Its
half-life at neutral pH and 37 °C is about 1.5 min and is
longer at lower temperatures (Lenzen and Munday 1991).
On the other hand, when a diabetogenic dose is used, the
time of alloxan decomposition is sufficient to allow it to
reach the pancreas in amounts that are deleterious.