Aims/hypothesis The adult non-obese Goto-Kakizaki (GK) rat model of type 2 diabetes, particularly females, carries in addition to hyperglycaemia a genetic predisposition towards dyslipidaemia, including hypercholesterolaemia. As cholesterol-induced atherosclerosis may be programmed in utero, we looked for signs of perinatal lipid alterations and islet microangiopathy. We hypothesise that such alterations contribute towards defective pancreas/islet vascularisation that might, in turn, lead to decreased beta cell mass. Accordingly, we also evaluated islet inflammation and endothelial activation in both prediabetic and diabetic animals.Methods Blood, liver and pancreas were collected from embryonic day (E)21 fetuses, 7 dayold prediabetic neonates and 2.5 month-old diabetic GK rats and Wistar controls for analysis/quantification of: (1) Results Systemic and hepatic cholesterol anomalies already exist in GK fetuses and neonates.Hyperglycaemic GK fetuses exhibit a similar percentage decrease in total pancreas and islet vascularisation and beta cell mass. Normoglycaemic GK neonates show systemic inflammation, signs of islet pre-microangiopathy, disturbed angiogenesis, collapsed vascularisation and altered pancreas development. Concomitantly, GK neonates exhibit elevated defence mechanisms.Conclusions/interpretation These data suggest an autoinflammatory disease, triggered by in utero programming of cholesterol-induced islet microangiopathy interacting with chronic hyperglycaemia in GK rats. During the perinatal period, GK rats show also a marked deficient islet vascularisation in conjunction with decreased beta cell mass.
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