title: The BBZDR/Wor rat model for investigating the complications of type 2 diabetes mellitus.
abstract: Congenic and inbred strains of rats offer researchers invaluable insight into the etiopathogenesis of diabetes and associated complications. The inbred Bio-Breeding Zucker diabetic rat (BBZDR)/Wor rat strain is a relatively new and emerging model of type 2 diabetes. This strain was created by classical breeding methods used to introgress the defective leptin receptor gene (Lepr(fa)) from insulin-resistant Zucker fatty rats into the inbred BBDR/Wor strain background. The diabetic male BBZDR/Wor rat is homozygous for the fatty mutation and shares the genetic background of the original BB strain. Although lean littermates are phenotypically normal, obese juvenile BBZDR/Wor rats are hyperlipidemic and hyperleptinemic, become insulin resistant, and ultimately develop hyperglycemia. Furthermore, the BBZDR/Wor rat is immune competent and does not develop autoimmunity. Similar to patients with clinical diabetes, the BBZDR/Wor rat develops complications associated with hyperglycemia. The BBZDR/Wor rat is a model system that fully encompasses the ability to study the complications that affect human type 2 diabetic patients. In this review, recent work that has evaluated type 2 diabetic complications in BBZDR/Wor rats is discussed, including the authors' preliminary unpublished studies on cardiovascular disease.
authors.affiliation: Biomedical Research Models, Worcester, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Rebecca S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Tirabassi
authors.forename: Joan F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Flanagan
authors.forename: Tiangen
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Edward H
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Kislauskis
authors.forename: Paul J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Birckbichler
authors.forename: Dennis L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Guberski
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D048909:Diabetes Complications / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications* / Q000235:genetics; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D051381:Rats; D011913:Rats, Inbred BB; D011922:Rats, Mutant Strains; D011924:Rats, Zucker