Characterization of a novel congenic strain of diabetic fatty (WBN/Kob-Leprfa) rat

The WBN/Kob-Leprfa rat is a new congenic strain for the fa allele of the leptin receptor gene (Lepr). Homozygous (fa/fa) WBN/Kob-Leprfa rats provide a model of non-insulin-dependent diabetes with obesity. Here, we describe the characteristics of this new animal model in detail. At 7 weeks of age, both male and female obese WBN/Kob rats showed inflammatory cell infiltration of the pancreas that suggested pan-pancreatitis and an abnormal OGTT. At 3 months of age, both male and female obese WBN/Kob rats developed overt diabetes mellitus associated with severe chronic pancreatitis. In contrast, lean female WBN/Kob rats do not develop pancreatitis or diabetes. In WBN/Kob rats, this mutation might promote the onset of severe pancreatitis, leading to the rapid development of diabetes mellitus.