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Updated: Nov 10, 2025
Modeling and Evaluation of Murine Diabetic Cardiomyopathy Model
Published on: November 29, 2024
Application of Animal Models in Diabetic Cardiomyopathy
1Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chung-Ang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Insights
Diabetic cardiomyopathy (DiaCM) is a heart condition linked to diabetes mellitus. This review explores DiaCM
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Endocrinology
- Pathophysiology
Background:
- Diabetic heart disease presents a significant public health challenge.
- Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a primary risk factor for heart failure, specifically diabetic cardiomyopathy (DiaCM).
- DiaCM is characterized by myocardial dysfunction in diabetic patients without coronary artery disease or hypertension.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the current understanding of diabetic cardiomyopathy pathomechanisms.
- To categorize animal models of DiaCM based on their underlying pathomechanisms.
- To facilitate the identification of novel therapeutic targets for DiaCM.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of pathomechanisms in diabetic cardiomyopathy.
- Analysis of various animal models used to study DiaCM.
- Synthesis of current knowledge on metabolic, fibrotic, inflammatory, and genetic factors in DiaCM.
Main Results:
- Multiple factors contribute to DiaCM, including metabolic derangements, oxidative stress, fibrosis, inflammation, apoptosis, and impaired calcium handling.
- Animal models, despite limitations, have been crucial in elucidating DiaCM pathomechanisms.
- Specific animal models are discussed in relation to distinct pathomechanisms.
Conclusions:
- A comprehensive understanding of DiaCM pathomechanisms is essential for effective disease management.
- Animal models provide valuable insights into the complex mechanisms of diabetic cardiomyopathy.
- Further research into these mechanisms may reveal new therapeutic strategies for diabetic heart disease.
Abstract:
Diabetic heart disease is a growing and important public health risk. Apart from the risk of coronary artery disease or hypertension, diabetes mellitus (DM) is a well-known risk factor for heart failure in the form of diabetic cardiomyopathy (DiaCM). Currently, DiaCM is defined as myocardial dysfunction in patients with DM in the absence of coronary artery disease and hypertension. The underlying pathomechanism of DiaCM is partially understood, but accumulating evidence suggests that metabolic derangements, oxidative stress, increased myocardial fibrosis and hypertrophy, inflammation, enhanced apoptosis, impaired intracellular calcium handling, activation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, mitochondrial dysfunction, and dysregulation of microRNAs, among other factors, are involved. Numerous animal models have been used to investigate the pathomechanisms of DiaCM. Despite some limitations, animal models for DiaCM have greatly advanced our understanding of pathomechanisms and have helped in the development of successful disease management strategies. In this review, we summarize the current pathomechanisms of DiaCM and provide animal models for DiaCM according to its pathomechanisms, which may contribute to broadening our understanding of the underlying mechanisms and facilitating the identification of possible new therapeutic targets.
