title: How obesity causes diabetes in Zucker diabetic fatty rats.
abstract: The mechanisms of adipogenic diabetes in Zucker diabetic fatty (ZDF) rats, a model of obesity complicated by diabetes, are reviewed. In ZDF rats, a mutation in the leptin receptor, OB-R, is associated with leptin resistance, obesity, and increased fat content of islets. Exaggerated nitric oxide (NO) generation, attributed to high intracellular levels of long-chain fatty acids, impairs beta-cell function and prevents their compensation for obesity-induced diabetes. The resulting diabetic hyperglycemia can be completely prevented by agents that inhibit NO production.
authors.affiliation: Center for Diabetes Research, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75235-8854, USA.
authors.forename: R H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Unger