Rodent models of nephropathy associated with type II diabetes

End-stage renal disease from diabetic nephropathy, mainly due to type II di abetes, is an increasing problem in Western countries. The pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy is still incompletely understood and much of the exper imental insight has been obtained from insulinopenic animal models, resembl ing type I diabetes. This review therefore aims to describe available roden t models of nephropathy associated with type II diabetes. The review focuss es on the metabolic as well as renal functional and structural changes. The usefulness of these rodent models to study renal involvement in type II di abetes is discussed with particular emphasis on confounding factors such as hyperlipidemia, hypertension, immunologic abnormalities, urogenital struct ural abnormalities and other associated pathological conditions. In additio n recent observations on two rat strains, the obese Zucker (fatty) and Goto Kakizaki (GK) rat, are discussed in detail.