title: Profiling of Zucker diabetic fatty rats in their progression to the overt diabetic state.
abstract: Blood chemistry profiles (glucose, insulin, and triglycerides) and indirect calorimetry were performed on male Zucker diabetic fatty (ZDF) rats in a longitudinal fashion (starting at 7 weeks of age) to assess the nature and timing of specific events in the transition to overt diabetes. Peripheral (skeletal muscle) insulin resistance was clearly present at 7 weeks of age in ZDF rats, yet circulating glucose was only slightly above normal as a result of compensatory hyperinsulinemia. At a crucial stage from 7 to 8 weeks, a reduction in insulin levels instigated several deleterious changes resulting in reduced whole-body carbohydrate utilization and increased glycemia. In subsequent weeks, an inability to sustain peripheral glucose disposal as a consequence of a continuous decline in insulin levels further reduced carbohydrate utilization (increased lipid utilization) and enhanced the overt hyperglycemia. These observations document in a systematic fashion the alterations that define diabetic progression in ZDF rats.
authors.affiliation: Department of Diabetes Research, Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, IN 46285, USA.
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Etgen
authors.forename: B A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Oldham
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D011924:Rats, Zucker; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012119:Respiration; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D007328:Insulin; D014280:Triglycerides; D005947:Glucose