Development of rat metabolic syndrome models: A review

Abstract

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) has become a global problem. With the increasing prevalence of MetS worldwide, understanding its pathogenesis and treatment modalities are essential. Animal models should allow an appropriate representation of the clinical manifestations of human conditions. Rats are the most commonly used experimental animals for the study. The development of a proper MetS model using rats will contribute to the successful application of research findings to the clinical setting. Various intervention methods are used to induce MetS through diet induction with various compositions, chemicals, or a combination of both. This review will provide a comprehensive overview of several studies on the development of rat MetS models, along with the characteristics of the clinical manifestations resulting from each study.

Effects of Fructose and Stress on Rat Renal Copper Metabolism and Antioxidant Enzymes Function

“…A high-fructose diet was shown to induce a majority of signs of the metabolic syndrome, including increased blood glucose, glucose intolerance, insulin resistance, hypertriglyceridemia, and dyslipidemia [ 45 ], all of which, in the long term, contribute to development of metabolic disorders including type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases [ 4 ]. In line with this, our current results show that liquid fructose supplementation increases blood glucose level and disturbs insulin sensitivity, as judged by the increased HOMA index.…”

Activation of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 ameliorates metabolic syndrome-induced renal damage in rats by renal TLR4 and nuclear transcription factor κB downregulation

“…Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a cluster of metabolic disorders, including insulin resistance, abdominal obesity, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and glucose intolerance (1). The prevalence of MetS has been increasing over recent periods and has emerged as a major health problem.…”

Cytokine modulation by etanercept ameliorates metabolic syndrome and its related complications induced in rats administered a high-fat high-fructose diet

“…Considering the significant increase in the cases of metabolic syndrome (MS) globally, with an increasing prevalence rate of 20–30% 1 , MS has become the most epidemically pathological condition, with > 1 billion individuals experiencing MS, particularly in the Middle East 2 , 3 . This fact is attributable to the widespread well-defined symptoms of MS, such as obesity, hepatic damage, insulin resistance (IR), dyslipidemia, and hypertension, as well as to these symptoms being the leading causes of metabolic complications, such as cardiovascular disorders, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and nonalcoholic fatty liver diseases (NAFLD); this fact renders MS a new public health concern globally 1 , 4 , 5 .…”

“…Recently, studies have combined dietary models to induce MS and investigate possible interventions owing to the scarcity of animal models that are entirely analogous to human MS pathogenesis 1 , 4 .…”

“…Significant uptake of high-fat, high-fructose (HFHF) in the diet is the first marked step of MS at the pathogenesis level. Excess adipogenesis and lipogenesis stimulate the elevated secretions of adipocytokines, such as leptin overproduction, thereby developing leptin resistance and eventually inducing obesity 1 , 5 . The production of MS cytokines during adipocyte dysfunction fluctuates with the significant increase in tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) expression, and hypoadiponectinemia can lead to inflammation, IR, hypertension, and hepatic steatosis 6 , 7 .…”