Diabetes Preclinical Services

Overview

One of the founding members of PhysioGenix Rich Roman Ph. D. is the world's leading expert in renal physiology research. By leveraging his expertise we can offer world-class Type II diabetes preclinical research services.

Type-2 Diabetes Nephropathy (T2DN) Models

A unique rat model of Type-2 diabetes, develops diabetic nephropathy, mimicking the pattern of disease progression seen in patients. The T2DN rat was developed by combining the genomes of the GK rat, which develops diabetes but not renal disease, with important regions of the genome of the Fawn Hooded (FHH) rat, which develops renal disease but not diabetes.

T2DN rats are lean and exhibit insulin-resistance and lipid disorders at an early age. Following the early-onset of type II diabetes, they develop overt proteinuria by 6 months of age. Insulin secretion is well-preserved in T2DN rats throughout most of their lives. Insulin levels are typically elevated 2-5 fold relative to normal rats. The degree of proteinuria increases progressively and becomes quite severe as the rats age.

In addition to developing high levels of proteinuria and focal glomerulosclerosis, the T2DN rat is the only rodent model of diabetes that develops progressive diabetic nephropathy and glomerular nodules that resemble the Kimmelstiel-Wilson lesions that are the characteristic histopathologic change in the kidney of diabetic nephropathy in patients.

The GK rat, which contributes the majority of the genomic background to the T2DN rat, is also known to suffer from vascular disease, retinopathy, neuropathy and bone disease. Our research indicates that T2DN shares these traits, and that it can be used as a single model for studying the cardiac, nerve, and vascular end organ damage associated with diabetes as well as diabetic nephropathy.

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