Characterization of the spontaneous diabetes obesity syndrome in mature male CBA/Ca mice.

A spontaneous maturity onset diabetes obesity syndrome occurs in a small proportion (10-20%) of male CBA/Ca mice. Inbreeding can increase the incidence to 80%. It occurs at 12-16 weeks of age, and is characterized by hyperphagia, obesity, hyperglycaemia, hypertriglyceridaemia, hyperinsulinaemia, and an impaired glucose tolerance. The mice are also resistant to exogenous insulin. Female mice remain normal except for a slight increase in serum insulin. The male obese diabetic mice have a normal life expectancy. It is proposed that CBA/Ca mice can provide examples of a useful model for investigating the aetiology of type 2 diabetes and obesity, and the effectiveness of antidiabetic and antiobesity drugs.