Models & Assays
Chronic Obesity Models
Both the Zucker fa/fa rat and Diet induced obesity models provide a means to study effect of an NCE on multiple endpoints important for determining its potential as an anti-obesity therapy. A brief overview of endpoints that Transpharmation can measure and how these compare between the two models is presented below.
| Endpoint | Zucker model | DIO model | 
|---|---|---|
| Body mass | ~50% > vs. lean controls | ~30% > vs. controls | 
| Body composition (QMR) | Fat mass ~35% vs. ~7% lean controls Lean mass ~56% vs. 80% lean controls | Fat mass ~20% vs. ~10% controls Lean mass ~59% vs. 75% controls | 
| Food and water intake | Food and water intake elevated vs. lean controls. | Food and water intake actuall reduced vs. lean controls (based on high fat diet). | 
| Lipid profile | TG's + Cholesterol elevated vs. lean controls | TG's + Cholesterol modestly elevated vs. lean controls | 
| Blood insulin levels | Severe hyperinsulinaemia | Hyperinsulinaemia | 
| Blood glucose levels | Hyperglycemia | Normal blood glucose levels | 
| Glucose tolerance test | Elevated blood [glucose] following load - 2x AUC vs. lean controls. | Elevated blood [glucose] following load - 1.5x AUC vs. controls. | 
| Behavioural profile | Hypoactive, allodynia to a tactile stimulus vs. lean conrols | Hypoactive vs. controls. |