Non-genetic rodent models have been developed that combine exposure to a high-fat diet (HFD) with low doses of streptozotocin (STZ), a toxin that specifically targets the insulin-producing β-cells of the pancreas and destroys them through the alkylation of DNA. These models are popular because they more closely mirror the metabolic disturbances observed in Type 2 diabetic patients than is the case with monogenetic rodent models of diabetes/obesity or dietary-induced obese rats and mice alone. RenaSci have evaluated a variety of STZ doses, each of which develop different degrees of insulin resistance and diabetes, allowing you to choose the specific phenotype required for your project.
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