Rosiglitazone prevents the onset of hyperglycaemia and proteinuria in the Zucker diabetic fatty rat

Summary Aim To investigate the potential of rosiglitazone, a highly potent agonist at the nuclear peroxisome proliferator activated receptor‐γ (PPAR‐γ), to prevent the development of diabetes in the Zucker diabetic fatty (ZDF) rat or to ameliorate the condition at a later stage of the disease. Methods Rosiglitazone (10 μmol/kg body weight daily) was given via the diet to ZDF rats from aged 6 weeks, before the onset of hyperglycaemia (Prevention group), or from aged 21 weeks after hyperglycaemia and proteinuria were established (Intervention group). Untreated ZDF rats and age‐matched Zucker lean rats (ZL) served as controls and the experiment was terminated when the animals were aged 28 weeks. Results Whilst the combined ZDF control and Intervention groups were already hyperglycaemic (14.6 ± 1.6 vs. ZL 5.7 ± 0.1 mmol/l, mean ± s.e.m.; p