Spontaneous rodent models of diabetes and diabetic retinopathy

Diabetes is a complex and heterogeneous disorder presently affecting more than 100 million people worldwide and causing serious socio-economic problems. Spontaneous rodent models of diabetes mellitus have proved invaluable in understanding the pathogenesis, complications, and genetic or environmental influences that increase the risks of diabetes. We have reviewed here in the development and characterization of spontaneous rodent models that displayed most features commonly associated with diabetic retinopathy.