Rodent Models of Diabetes and Diabetes Complications

Abstract

The rats listed here have been extensively studied as animal models of diabetic complications and their pathogenesis. The results of studies with the SHROB, JCR:LAcp and OLETF rats are instructive in understanding macro vascular diseases. The Cohen, GK, SHROB and OLETF rats are model of diabetic kidney disease. The SHROB rat might also be useful for diabetic retinopathy study. The importance of mitochondrial inactivity in diabetes was demonstrated with the ZDF rat. The heterogeneous complication models may be useful to understand pathogenesis, prevention and treatment of complications of diabetes mellitus.