The streptozotocin-diabetic rat as a model of the chronic complications of human diabetes

Wei, Michael and Ong, Leslie and Smith, Maree and Ross, Fraser B. and Schmid, Katrina and Hoey, Andrew and Burstow, Darryl and Brown, Lindsay (2003) The streptozotocin-diabetic rat as a model of the chronic complications of human diabetes. Heart, Lung & Circulation, 12 (1). pp. 44-50. ISSN 1444-2892

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Abstract

Background: Diabetes in humans induces chronic complications such as cardiovascular damage, cataracts and retinopathy, nephropathy and polyneuropathy. The most common animal model of human diabetes is streptozotocin(STZ)-induced diabetes in the rat.
Methods: This project has assessed cardiovascular, ocular and neuropathic changes over a period of 24 weeks post-STZ treatment in rats.
Results: STZ-diabetic rats (n=96) showed stable signs of diabetes (hyperglycaemia, increased water and food intake with no increase in body weight); 52% of untreated STZ-diabetic rats (n=50) survived 24 weeks. STZ-diabetic rats were normotensive with slowly developing systolic and diastolic dysfunction and an increased ventricular stiffness. Ventricular action potential durations were markedly prolonged. STZ-diabetic rats developed stable tactile allodynia. Cataracts developed to presumed blindness at 16 weeks but proliferative retinopathy was not observed even after 24 weeks.
Conclusion: The chronic STZ-diabetic rat mimics many but not all of the chronic complications observed in the diabetic human. The chronic STZ-diabetic rat may be a useful model to test therapeutic approaches for amelioration of chronic diabetic complications in humans.

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Item Type:	Article (Commonwealth Reporting Category C)
Refereed:	Yes
Item Status:	Live Archive
Additional Information:	Deposited in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher.
Faculty / Department / School:	Historic - Faculty of Sciences - Department of Biological and Physical Sciences
Date Deposited:	11 Oct 2007 01:13
Last Modified:	02 Jul 2013 22:46
Uncontrolled Keywords:	diabetes; echocardiography; electrophysiology; neuropathic pain; cataracts; retinopathy
Fields of Research :	06 Biological Sciences > 0606 Physiology > 060699 Physiology not elsewhere classified
Identification Number or DOI:	doi: 10.1046/j.1444-2892.2003.00160.x
URI:	http://eprints.usq.edu.au/id/eprint/2736

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