Diabetes and hypertension: experimental models for pharmacological studies

Since hypertensive and diabetes-mellitus frequently occur simultaneously there exists a requirement for animal models where both pathological entities are combined. The streptozotocin (STZ)-spontaneously hypertensive rat (STZ-SHR) and the obese Zucker rat are examples of animal models where hypertension and diabetes occur simultaneously. STZ-SHR develop a hyperglycaemic syndrome, associated with other biochemical and morphological changes that to some extent approach IDDM (type I diabetes) combined with hypertension. The obese Zucker rat is characterised by the simultaneous occurrence of obesity, hyperglycaemia, hyperinsulinaemia, hyperlipidaemia and moderate hypertension. As such it approaches the patient with NIDDM (type II diabetes) who is simultaneously hypertensive. Lean Zucker rats are suitable controls with respect to the obese animals. Both animal models (STZ-SHR and obese Zucker rats) were characterised with respect to their biochemical, morphometric and haemodynamic characteristics of their cardiovascular system. The resemblance of this model with human NIDDM with hypertension syndrome indicates that the obese Zucker rat deserves special attention in pharmacological research.