Alternatives to the Streptozotocin-Diabetic Rodent

The study of diabetic neuropathy has relied primarily on the use of streptozotocin-treated rat and mouse models of type 1 diabetes. This chapter will review the creation and use of other rodent models that have been developed in order to investigate the contribution of factors besides insulin deficiency to the development and progression of diabetic neuropathy as it occurs in obesity, type 1 or type 2 diabetes. Diabetic peripheral neuropathy is a complex disorder with multiple mechanisms contributing to its development and progression. Even though many animal models have been developed and investigated, no single model can mimic diabetic peripheral neuropathy as it occurs in humans. Nonetheless, animal models can play an important role in improving our understanding of the etiology of diabetic peripheral neuropathy and in performing preclinical screening of potential new treatments. To date treatments found to be effective for diabetic peripheral neuropathy in rodent models have failed in clinical trials. However, with the identification of new endpoints for the early detection of diabetic peripheral neuropathy and the understanding that a successful treatment may require a combination therapeutic approach there is hope that an effective treatment will be found.