Hemodynamic characterization of the diabetic Psammomys obesus - An animal model of type II diabetes mellitus

The hemodynamic changes occurring early in the course of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (Type II, NIDDM) are not well understood. We applied the radioactive microspheres technique at an early stage of diabetes in Psammomys abesus (sand rat), an established animal model of spontaneous NIDDM. Ten diabetic and 7 control male animals were studied. Plasma glucose and insulin levels in the diabetic group were significantly higher than in the control group (21.3 ± 2.1 vs. 6.2 ± 1.1 mmol/l, and 2650 ± 480 vs. 770 ± 120 pmol/l, respectively). Mean arterial blood pressure, heart rate, cardiac output, splanchnic blood flow, muscular blood flow, and total peripheral resistance were not statistically different between the two groups. Renal blood flow was significantly lower in the diabetic group (7.45 ± 0.32 vs. 10.48 ± 0.99 ml/min) and renal arterial resistance was higher (11.65 ± 0.93 vs. 8.33 ± 0.76 mm Hg·min/ml) compared with the control group. These results suggest that increased renal resistance and decreased renal blood flow may be the initial hemodynamic alterations in NIDDM. The combination of this animal model with the radioactive microspheres technique provides a new tool for studying the physiopathology, the natural history of hemodynamic changes, and possible therapeutic interventions of Type II diabetes.