Differential Contribution of Dietary Fat and Monosaccharide to Metabolic Syndrome in the Common Marmoset (Callithrix jacchus)

Abstract

IntroductIonDiabetes mellitus is a disease of great public health concern. In the US alone, an estimated 23.6 million individuals have diagnosed or undiagnosed diabetes with the vast majority of undiagnosed cases likely to be type 2 diabetes (T2D) (1). As this population ages, the prevalence of associated cardiovascular, renal, and neurologic comorbidities is expected to rise, adding to the urgency of finding options for treatment and prevention. With over one billion in National Institutes of Health dollars devoted to research initiatives in diabetes pathogenesis and prevention, there is a need to develop and refine animal models to facilitate this research (2). Of the mammalian systems available, nonhuman primate (NHP) models are highly beneficial due to their genetic and physiologic similarity to humans.Currently there is a wide body of literature describing diabetes research in macaque species. A common model involves the study of spontaneous onset of T2D in aged rhesus macaques.

Body mass growth in common marmosets: Toward a model of pediatric obesity

“…Captive adult nonhuman primates also display obesity. Species in which spontaneous or diet-induced obesity in a captive setting have been described include macaques (Kemnitz, 1984; Bodkin et al, 1993; Wagner et al, 2006), vervet monkeys (Kavanagh et al, 2007), baboons (Comuzzie et al, 2003), squirrel monkeys (Ausman et al, 1981) and marmosets (Tardif et al, 2009; Wachtman et al, 2011). Weight gain associated with infection of adult macaques and marmosets with human adenovirus AD36 has been reported (Dhurandhar et al, 2002).…”

“…Weight gain associated with infection of adult macaques and marmosets with human adenovirus AD36 has been reported (Dhurandhar et al, 2002). Sequelae to obesity are described in most of these cases that mirror those seen in humans, including insulin resistance, diabetes, dyslipidemia, lipid accumulation in the liver and atherosclerotic changes (Hansen and Bodkin, 1993; Wagner et al, 2006; Tardif et al, 2009; Wachtman et al, 2011). Less well understood are the factors that cause obesity to occur spontaneously in some animals and not others or the reasons that variable responses to diet-induced obesity are observed.…”

Long‐term management of type 2 diabetes mellitus in callitrichids with oral anti‐hyperglycaemic medication

“…A commercial low‐sugar marmoset diet was trialled but palatability was very low and all the animals rejected it. Feeding callitrichids either a glucose‐enriched or a high‐fat diet resulted in profound pancreatic islet hyperplasia, suggesting a compensation for increased insulin requirements subsequent to the hyperglycaemia induced by these diets (Wachtman et al ., ). Islet hyperplasia, lipomatosis (accumulation of fat cells), pancreatitis and pancreatic necrosis/steatonecrosis (death of pancreatic/adipose tissue) have been detected in callitrichids with high body weight and obesity as well as several cases of hyperglycaemia and glucosuria in which insulin resistance and/or T2DM were considered likely (Juan‐Sallés et al ., ).…”

Establishing Meal Patterns by Lickometry in the Marmoset Monkey (Callithrix jacchus): Translational Applications From the Bench to the Field and the Clinic

“…Marmosets have been found to develop spontaneous obesity, as well as diet induced obesity in a captive setting [Tardif et al, 2009; Wachtman et al, 2011]. Although the marmoset lickometer data differs in its focus on licks from human data focusing on bites, it is possible that the data will more truly reflect differences between individuals than what can be found in human laboratory collection, especially as it reflects a complete daily pattern rather than a single meal as is often collected for humans.…”