Development of a Novel Zebrafish Model for Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Sci Rep. 2017 May 3;7(1):1461. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-01432-w.

Abstract

Obesity is a major cause of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in mammals. We have previously established a zebrafish model of diet-induced obesity (DIO zebrafish) by overfeeding Artemia. Here we created DIO zebrafish using a different method to induce T2DM. Zebrafish were overfed a commercially available fish food using an automated feeding system. We monitored the fasting blood glucose levels in the normal-fed group (one feed/day) and overfed group (six feeds/day) over an 8-week period. The fasting blood glucose level was significantly increased in DIO zebrafish compared with that of normal-fed zebrafish. Intraperitoneal and oral glucose tolerance tests showed impaired glucose tolerance by overfeeding. Insulin production, which was determined indirectly by measuring the EGFP signal strength in overfed Tg(-1.0ins:EGFP) sc1 zebrafish, was increased in DIO zebrafish. The anti-diabetic drugs metformin and glimepiride ameliorated hyperglycaemia in the overfed group, suggesting that this zebrafish can be used as a model of human T2DM. Finally, we conducted RNA deep sequencing and found that the gene expression profiling of liver-pancreas revealed pathways common to human T2DM. In summary, we developed a zebrafish model of T2DM that shows promise as a platform for mechanistic and therapeutic studies of diet-induced glucose intolerance and insulin resistance.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Animals, Genetically Modified
  • Blood Glucose / metabolism*
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / drug therapy
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / etiology
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / genetics
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / metabolism*
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / genetics
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / metabolism*
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / pathology
  • Diet / adverse effects
  • Fasting / blood
  • Gene Expression Profiling
  • Gene Expression Regulation*
  • Glucose Tolerance Test
  • Humans
  • Hyperglycemia / genetics
  • Hyperglycemia / metabolism*
  • Hyperglycemia / pathology
  • Hyperphagia / physiopathology
  • Hypoglycemic Agents / pharmacology
  • Insulin / genetics
  • Insulin / metabolism*
  • Liver / metabolism
  • Metformin / pharmacology
  • Pancreas / metabolism
  • Sulfonylurea Compounds / pharmacology
  • Zebrafish

Substances

  • Blood Glucose
  • Hypoglycemic Agents
  • Insulin
  • Sulfonylurea Compounds
  • glimepiride
  • Metformin