Cost-effective low-dose streptozotocin and high-fat diet improve the type 2 diabetes mellitus rat analysis

Abstract

Objective: The induction of type II diabetes mellitus (T2DM) rat model using the Sprague Dawley (SD) species is commonly performed for further laboratory experimental purposes. Various laboratory conditions or even other environments provide different outcomes in achieving the model utilising the previous protocol. Materials and Methods: We performed an experimental animal study. Researchers administered a revamped induction regimen involving a variation of a high-fat diet (HFD) with several low-dose streptozotocin injections and a glucose drink immediately after injection. Results: HFD-fed rats have demonstrated severe hyperglycaemic status, though they were further evaluated to assess their insulin sensitivity. Analysing subgroups, HFD with glucose drink indicated poor insulin sensitivity after 2 h of intraperitoneal insulin injection. Poor glucose clearance revealed insulin resistance in the rat model (P = 0.026). Different dietary courses and fasting blood glucose were found not significant, P < 0.05. Complementary glucose in HFD was much more likely to cause hyperglycaemic characteristic, although HFD alone did not indicate many discrepancies in hyperglycaemic condition χ2 (2, N = 216) =181.385, P < 0.01. The extra glucose in HFD greatly decreased glucose clearance efficiency, although HFD alone did not demonstrate a clear correlation with the glucose clearance rate, χ2 (2, N = 1003) =700.638, P < 0.01. In addition, the hyperglycaemic state was conversely correlated with insulin sensitivity (r = −0.727, P < 0.001). Conclusion: This approach provides an alternative T2DM induction technique in SD rats. The key features of T2DM, including hyperglycaemic state and insulin insensitivity, were successfully developed in the animal model.