【Animal Modeling】-Diabetic Transgenic Pig Model

  Diabetes mellitus (DM) is an endocrine and metabolic disorder characterized by hyperglycemia caused by absolute or relative lack of insulin in the body. It has become a global epidemic, with an incidence rate of 5% in China. Diabetic retinopathy (diabeticetinopathy, DR) is one of the common complications of diabetes and is increasing year by year in China. Animal models of diabetes play a very important role in the study of DR, and are the basis for studying the etiology, clinical manifestations, prevention and treatment of DR. It can be divided into four types: chemical induction model, spontaneous genetic animal model, partial pancreatectomy model and genetic modification. Japanese researchers recently used genetic modification technology to reproduce complications such as diabetes, retinopathy, and kidney failure in pigs. Reproducing these diseases in large mammals will help to study the mechanisms that cause complications and corresponding treatments. According to "Nihon Keizai Shimbun" on the 29th, insufficient human insulin secretion can lower blood sugar levels and cause diabetes. High blood sugar can damage blood vessels and nerves and cause complications. In severe cases, it can cause blindness and kidney failure.

   The research team of Meiji University in Japan used the latest genetic engineering technology to transfer the gene that causes human diabetes to pigs, reducing the pig’s insulin secretion and causing diabetes. Long-term breeding and observation revealed that the blood vessels of the sick pigs became fragile, the symptoms of retinal hemorrhage continued to increase, cataracts appeared, and the kidneys also showed symptoms of damage. according to According to the research team, previous studies on diabetes drugs mainly used experimental mice, but the weight and life span of experimental mice were completely different from those of humans, so the role of drug development was pigs. It is better to use organs such as blood and blood levels. Mammals close to humans. The genetically modified pig model developed by the research team is more suitable for related research and helps to clarify the mechanism of diabetes and complications.