Model of Streptozotocin-nicotinamide Induced Type 2 Diabetes: a Comparative Review

The aim of the present study was to review the streptozotocin-nicotinamide (STZ-NA) diabetes model. Type 2 diabetes is more prevalent (90-95%) in adults than type 1. Experimentally- induced diabetes models may be established by chemicals, viral agents, insulin antibodies, surgery, etc. The most advisable and prompt method to induce diabetes is using chemicals, and STZ and alloxan are widely used chemicals. STZ has proven to be a better diabetogenic agent than alloxan because alloxan has many drawbacks, as it induces only type 1 diabetes, has a high mortality rate in rats, and causes ketosis in animals. Moreover, it has lesser selectivity towards β-cells, and the diabetes-induced is reversible. STZ can be used to induce both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. It is noted that the genotoxic behavior of STZ in animals is accomplished through a reduction of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) in pancreatic β-cells via the GLUT2 (Glucose transporter 2), which can cause cellular damage by DNA (Deoxyribonucleic acid) strand breaks that lead to cell death. NA is a biochemical precursor of NAD+, and it is a poly-ADP-ribose-polymerase-1 (PARP- 1) inhibitor. NAD+ is an important redox reaction co-enzyme for the production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and many other metabolic pathways. Extreme DNA damage contributes to the over-activation of PARP-1, loss of cellular resources, and necrotic cells death. Some studies have expressed that NA can protect pancreatic β-cells against the severe cytotoxicity of STZ. The review concluded that the STZ-NA model is dependent on the competency of NA to attain partial protection against the β-cytotoxic essence of STZ to induce type-2 diabetes.