Dyslipidemia and diabetes: animal models.

Many models of diabetes dyslipidemia are available. Animals with chemically-induced diabetes have been used to study insulin-dependent diabetes. Hypercholesterolemia in streptozotocin-induced diabetes in rats results from increased intestinal absorption and synthesis of cholesterol. Lipoproteins from diabetic rats are oxidized and demonstrate cytotoxicity, a feature which can be prevented by insulin or antioxidant treatment. Diabetic rabbits fed a cholesterol-rich diet do not develop atherosclerotic lesions because accumulated VLDL are apo E-depleted, too large and do not enter into the arterial wall. Models for non-insulin-dependent diabetes (NIDDM) are obtained through selective breeding or dietary conditions. The obese Zucker rat (fa/fa) is characterized by hyperphagy, hyperglycaemia, hyperinsulinemia, insulin-resistance, hypertriglyceridemia and hypercholesteolemia. It responds to dietary, hormonal and drug treatments, but does not develop atherosclerosis spontaneously. It is used as a model for obesity, NIDDM and type IV hyperlipidemia. The JCR:LA cp rat bears the corpulent gene and develops similar characteristics to those of the Zucker rat. However, insulin-resistance is more severe in homozygous males (cp/cp), and cardiovascular lesions are observed. Their appearance is reduced by treatments which decrease hyperinsulinemia and insulin resistance but not by lowering lipid levels alone. The sand rats (Psammomys obesus) develop obesity and NIDDM when fed a laboratory diet. When cholesterol and anti-thyroid drug are added to the diet, they develop cardiovascular lesions. This species constitutes a new model for studying atherosclerosis-related diabetes.