Rat Obesity Model
InquiryOverview of the Rat Obesity Model
The focus of rat obesity model development is to address the growing global obesity problem that affects a large portion of the population and leads to serious health complications. At Protheragen, we specialize in providing comprehensive Preclinical Studies of Anti-Obesity Therapeutics, including but not limited to the development of various Obesity Models, especially In Vivo Obesity Models for Obesity Research to conduct detailed obesity studies.
We employ our rat obesity model as a cornerstone for evaluating and advancing Anti-Obesity Therapy Development. This model plays a crucial role in assessing the potential of Anti-Obesity Small Molecule Drug Development and Anti-Obesity Tissue Engineering Therapy Development. By closely mimicking the physiological and metabolic changes observed in human obesity, it enables us to gain insights into the mechanisms of action and effectiveness of these therapies, ultimately accelerating the translation of promising candidates into clinical applications.
Elevate Your Research with Our Rat Obesity Model Development Service
Rats Suitable for Obesity Models
Strains
Sprague-Dawley Rats: Commonly used due to their susceptibility to diet-induced obesity.
Zucker Rats: Genetically prone to obesity due to a mutation in the leptin receptor.
Wistar Rats: Another preferred strain for diet-induced obesity models.
Genetic Models
ob/ob Rats (Leptin-Deficient): Useful for studying the role of leptin in obesity.
fa/fa Rats (Leptin Receptor-Deficient): Another model for exploring leptin signaling pathways.
Techniques for Building and Evaluating Rat Obesity Models
Diet-Induced Obesity (DIO)
High-Fat Diet: Rats are fed a diet with high-fat content (typically 40-60% of calories from fat) to induce obesity.
High-Sugar Diet: A diet rich in sugars (such as fructose or sucrose) used to induce metabolic syndrome.
Cafeteria Diet: Rats are provided with a variety of high-calorie human foods to induce obesity.
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Knockout Models: Advanced gene editing techniques are used to knock out genes associated with metabolism and obesity.
Transgenic Rats: Develop transgenic rats that overexpress or underexpressed key genes related to obesity.
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Monosodium Glutamate (MSG) Treatment: Neonatal rats are treated with MSG to induce hypothalamic lesions leading to obesity.
Streptozotocin (STZ) Induction: Injection of STZ to induce diabetes, often used in combination with high-fat diets.
Surgical Induction: Obese rat models are established by Destroying Hypothalamus of rats or performing Ovariectomy on female rats.
Drug Induction: Obesity is induced by injecting drugs into rats.
Steps and Customization
Induction Phase
Selection of Rat Model: Choose the appropriate rat strain or genetic model based on the research objective.
Diet Formulation: Custom formulate the diet based on the desired macronutrient composition.
Induction Protocol: Implement a schedule for dietary induction or chemical treatment.
Monitoring Phase
Body Weight Measurement: Regular weighing to track the progression of obesity.
Body Composition Analysis: Use dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) to measure fat mass and lean mass.
Metabolic Monitoring: Assess food intake, energy expenditure, and metabolic rate using indirect calorimetry.
Evaluation Phase
Biochemical Assays: Measure blood glucose, insulin, leptin, and lipid profiles.
Histological Analysis: Examine adipose tissue, liver, and pancreas histology for pathological changes.
Behavioral Tests: Assess changes in feeding behavior, activity levels, and cognitive function.
Workflow
Applications of the Rat Obesity Model
- Nutritional research: The rat obesity model can be used to evaluate the effects of different dietary components on body weight and health.
- Disease model establishment: Combined with gene editing technology, this model can be used to develop disease models for obesity and its complications.
- Prevention and intervention strategy verification: Using the rat obesity model, researchers verify various strategies for preventing obesity and reducing weight, including lifestyle interventions, surgical treatments, and psychological interventions.
Advantages
- Professional customized service: We design and build obese rat models that meet research purposes according to client needs.
- Diversified technology platform: We have a powerful technology platform that not only provides traditional obesity model construction services but also combines advanced technologies such as gene editing and high-throughput sequencing to provide clients with more comprehensive and in-depth research solutions.
- One-stop service: We provide one-stop services from model construction, and feeding management to data collection and analysis to save clients time and energy.
Publication
Published: 2015
Journal: PloS ONE
IF: 2.9
Results: To establish a rat obesity model, the study used 6-week-old male Sprague Dawley rats, which were divided into two groups: a control group fed with standard chow and an experimental group fed with a high-fat diet (HFD) for 16 weeks. The HFD group received a combination of commercial high-fat pellets and a modified chow composed of powdered chow, sweetened condensed milk, and lard. The food intake of rats was monitored weekly, while glucose and insulin tolerance tests were performed at intervals. At the end of the diet regime, the rats were euthanized to collect blood and tissue samples for further analysis. The evaluation of the rat obesity model included measuring body weight, adipose tissue mass, plasma leptin, and triglyceride levels, as well as assessing glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity.
Fig.1 Glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity. (Lecomte, et al., 2015)
Our obesity prediction service leverages a multi-faceted approach, including the Genetic and Epigenetic Sequencing-Based Obesity Risk Analysis Service. This service identifies genetic and epigenetic markers associated with obesity, providing personalized insights into an individual's risk profile. Complementing this, the Physio-psycho-social Model-based Obesity Prediction Service integrates physiological, psychological, and social factors to offer a holistic prediction of obesity development. Furthermore, the Blood Test-based Obesity Prediction Service utilizes blood biomarkers to assess obesity risk, offering a non-invasive and convenient option for clients.
Frequently Asked Questions
If I encounter unstable model performance or abnormal data during use, how does your company handle it?
We attach great importance to client feedback and have a dedicated technical support team to solve problems encountered by clients during use. If you find that the model performance is unstable or the data is abnormal, please contact us immediately. We will arrange for technicians to provide remote guidance as soon as possible to find out the cause of the problem and provide a solution. If necessary, we will also provide model optimization services to ensure the smooth progress of your research.
Is your rat obesity model customized?
Of course. We understand the uniqueness and complexity of each research project, so we provide personalized rat obesity model customization services. You can fully communicate with our technical team according to your research needs, such as specific genotypes, dietary regimens, intervention measures, etc., and jointly design and build an obese rat model that meets the requirements.
Protheragen focuses on providing a high-quality rat obesity model development service. With our professional technical team and rigorous R&D process, we tailor rat models that accurately simulate the physiological and pathological characteristics of human obesity for our clients. Please feel free to contact us for more details if you are interested in our rat obesity model development services!
Reference
- Lecomte, V.; et al. Changes in gut microbiota in rats fed a high fat diet correlate with obesity-associated metabolic parameters. PloS one. 2015, 10(5): e0126931.
All of our services and products are intended for preclinical research use only and cannot be used to diagnose, treat or manage patients.