Animal models of obesity & their usefulness in molecular approach to obesity

Obesity, a multifactorial nutrition disorder, is no longer the problem of t he affluent West; it has been slowly gaining entry in to developing countri es as well. Ever since the first demonstration of an experimental hypothala mic obese rat model, laboratory animals have been in the forefront of basic research concerned with this important metabolic disease. Apart from nonge neric models, an array of genetic murine models of obesity is now available . Over the years the obese loci in these mutants were localised, and most o f them have been cloned. Among them leptin and its receptor - the first gen e products to be identified, have revolutionised the field, and the possibi lity of a 'lipostat' mechanism operating in the body is no longer in the re alm of imagination. Studies are now on, to identify the murine obese genes in the human population with a view to understand the problem and intervene therapeutically. We have recently developed a new rat model of obesity in our animal facilities, which has several advantages over the existing Weste rn models. It is hoped, that this new model will strengthen and expand our knowledge on obesity - an interesting but complex syndrome.