Saturated-fat diet induces moderate diabetes and severe glomerulosclerosis in hamsters.
OBJECTIVE
Diets high in saturated fat are thought to be a risk factor for Type 2 diabetes and associated complications. We investigated effects of a medium and high saturated fat diet on the development of diabetes-associated pathologies in Golden Syrian hamsters, an animal that reacts to dietary lipids in a fashion similar to humans.


METHODS
Three diets containing 46.5 kcal %, 267.3 kcal %, and 488.2 kcal % as saturated fat respectively, were studied. Metabolic parameters were measured up to 20 weeks. Electron microscopy was used to examine the structure of the pancreas, aorta and kidney.


RESULTS
Increased saturated fat consumption was associated with: (i) gradual imbalance of homeostasis, and severe structural alterations of acinar, beta cells and capillaries in the pancreas, and of the kidney glomeruli; (ii) severe hypertriglyceridaemia and augmented creatinine concentrations related to disturbances of the renal function, progressing to nodular glomerulosclerosis and nephropathy; (iii) reduced early insulin secretion in response to glucose; (iv) switch of the aortic endothelium to a secretory phenotype.


CONCLUSIONS
The results show that high-caloric saturated fat intake induced diabetes in hamsters, probably linked to delayed insulin secretion. The model was also associated with the development of a range of pathologies characteristic to human diabetes, including nephropathy and defects in vasculature. Thus, high-fat fed hamsters provide a new model that is likely to be useful in understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of diabetes.
Popov
D
D
Institute of Cellular Biology and Pathology N.Simionescu, 8, BP Hasdeu Street, 79691, Bucharest, Romania. popov@simionescu.instcellbiopath.ro
Simionescu
M
M
Shepherd
P R
PR
D000818:Animals; D001011:Aorta / Q000473:pathology; D002196:Capillaries / Q000473:pathology; D006224:Cricetinae; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003928:Diabetic Nephropathies / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D018149:Glucose Intolerance; D006706:Homeostasis; D007328:Insulin / Q000378:metabolism; D000078790:Insulin Secretion; D007678:Kidney Glomerulus / Q000098:blood supply; D008297:Male; D010179:Pancreas / Q000473:pathology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
D004041:Dietary Fats; D005227:Fatty Acids; D007328:Insulin