Cardiovascular risk factors involved in Type 2 diabetic rat models: A long term preliminary screening

Abstract

The study was to evaluate the cardiovascular risk factors involved in n-STZ (Split dose Streptozotocin in neonatal rats) and F-STZ (high fat diet and low dose STZ) rat models of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) on a long term. The n-STZ model was developed using a split dose regimen of STZ (50 mg/kg, i.p.) administered on 2^nd and 3^rd postnatal days. F-STZ model was developed by high fat diet for 2 weeks followed by low dose of STZ (L-STZ -35 mg/kg, i.p.). Cardiovascular risk factors were evaluated at regular intervals in both models along with fasting blood glucose (FBG) and oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). The diabetic group in both the model was found to show elevated lipid levels, CK-MB and LDH. Elevated systolic blood pressure (SBP) and along with hypertrophy of heart was observed in n-STZ model which is in contrast to F-STZ model. Both the n-STZ and F-STZ models are appropriate to study the cardiovascular risk factors in T2DM, except SBP in F-STZ model. Obesity was not a characteristic feature in F-STZ model in long term basis.