Caracterização da colônia de ratos Goto-Kakizaki (GK) do Instituto Butantan: avaliação biométrica e glicêmica

Abstract

Experimental models for diabetes mellitus (DM) are relevant instruments for understanding the disease, being fundamental in the exploration, characterization of its pathophysiology and evaluation of new therapeutic agents. The Goto-Kakizaki (GK) rat is an important experimental model to investigate complications related to type 2 DM without obesity and its physiological consequences. He presents with moderate hyperglycemia, impaired glucose-induced insulin secretion, glucose intolerance, insulin resistance, increased plasma triglycerides, hepatic glucotoxicity, and chronic inflammation. Objective: To characterize biometric, clinical and metabolic aspects of the colony of GK rats reared in the Central Animal Facility of the Butantan Institute, during the first 3 months of the animals' lives. Methods: 24 GK rats and 24 Wistar rats, 12 males and 12 females of each strain, aged 28 days, were used. During the experimental period, the animals were weighed and measured weekly, as well as the consumption of water and food. Every two weeks, up to 84 days of age, a blood glucose test was performed. Conclusion: Goto-Kakizaki rats have lower body weight and size than Wistar rats, both male and female. The Wistar had a lower water and food intake per live weight than the GK, as well as glycemic values, but had higher BMI values, which confirms the characteristic of GK rats from non-obese diabetic animals, however the tissue should not be disregarded visceral adipose. It is important to characterize the animals carried out and published internally by each vivarium.