The investigation was performed in 96 Wistar rats. Diabetes mellitus was induced by single injection of 50 mg/kg of streptozotocin. Cholecystokinin (CCK) synthesizing neurons were identified in hypothalamic structures using indirect immunofluorescence. In latent period of diabetes (2 wks) number of CCK--immunopositive neurons increases, especially in paraventricular and suprachiasmatic nuclei, while in ventrolateral subnucleus of arcuate nucleus and parvicellular subnucleus of paraventricular nucleus areas occupied by immunoreactive material in neurons and their CCK content are reduced. By the end of wk 5 of the disease increase in number of CCK immunopositive neurons was registered only in medial parvicellular subnucleus of paraventricular nucleus whereas in other structures their number was reduced. The administration of CCK to intact animals causes increase of insulin content in endocrinocytes of pancreatic islets, but does not affect the level of hypoglycemia. The administration of the peptide to animals with diabetes leads to destruction of pancreatic islets, decline in endocrinocyte number and insulin content and marked hypoglycemia. Thus, the data obtained indicate the significant role of hypothalamic peptidergic system and CCK in regulation of beta-endocrinocyte function.