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Evaluation of the BBZDR/Wor rat: a new animal model for type 2 diabetes
Author(s) -
Negrin Kimberly A.,
Tomcho Kayce A.,
Birckbichler Paul J.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.22.1_supplement.626.1
Subject(s) - medicine , diabetes mellitus , diabetic nephropathy , renal function , nephropathy , biomarker , trichrome , glomerulus , kidney , pathology , type 2 diabetes , kidney disease , physiology , endocrinology , biology , immunohistochemistry , h&e stain , biochemistry
Diabetes is a large concern of the American medical community. A major hallmark of diabetic nephropathy is the decline in the rate of glomerular filtration, thus dramatically affecting the structure and functionality of the kidneys. We hypothesize that changes in biochemical/biomarker expression in the early stages of diabetes will precede morphologic changes, and offer the best approach to identify diabetic patients at risk for development of kidney complications. Our hypothesis was tested by inspection of trichrome‐stained kidney tissue slides for structural and diameter differences, and for severity of damage using the genetically engineered BBZDR/Wor rat, a new animal model that mimics Type 2 diabetes. The diameters of diabetic specimens were statistically larger when compared to age‐matched controls as early as 2 months of age. These results prompted the current study, which involves semi‐quantitative scoring of the severity of kidney damage. This was approached in two ways: visual inspection of the glomerular damage and visual inspection of overall damage. The analysis indicated that diseased specimens have sustained damage by scarring and retraction within the glomerulus, scarring of tubules, increased collagen levels, and an increase in interstitial space. A method to quantitatively analyze the severity of damage is in the early stages of development. The clinical relevance of this study is that the morphological changes may be a future predictor of the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy. Support for this research was supplied by the College of Health, Science and Environment and Faculty/Student Research Grant program of Slippery Rock University.