[Experimental models of insulin resistance and obesity: lessons learned]

For better understanding the role of each element involved in the physiopathology of obesity and insulin resistance, researchers can use experimental models, which may in controlled manner evaluate the participation of each element on the obesity and insulin resistance and provide information for better understanding the physiopathology and treatment of obesity and insulin resistance. Experimental obesity and insulin resistance can be due to a deficient response to leptin, secondary to hypoleptinemia and/or mutations on leptin receptor, by modifications on insulin receptor, deletion or diminished insulin signal transduction, enhancement of the effects of orexigen peptides and/or diminution of anorexigen peptides actions on hypothalamus, as well as secondary to arterial hypertension, as in the spontaneously hypertension. Obesity and insulin resistance can also be induced by glucocorticoid excess, frutose enriched and cafeteria diet and due to hypothalamus lesions induced by neonatal administration of monossodium glutamate.