OBJECTIVE: To diagnose spontaneously diabetic cynomolgus monkeys and analyze the changes of their bone microstructure, in order to establish an animal model of spontaneous diabetes mellitus complicated with osteoporosis.
METHODS: Four cynomolgus monkeys with spontaneous diabetes between 13 and 20 years old were selected, and animals of similar age were used as controls; fasting blood glucose and glucose tolerance were detected by fast blood glucose meter, and relevant biochemical indexes in serum were detected by biochemical analyzer. Diabetic cynomolgus monkeys were used for diagnosis; Micro-CT was used to measure the bone structure of the lower femur and upper tibia, and to analyze the changes of bone microstructure in spontaneously diabetic cynomolgus monkeys.
Results: The fasting blood glucose of the cynomolgus monkeys in the spontaneous diabetes group was greater than 8.0 mmol/L, and the blood glucose at 120 min of the glucose tolerance test was greater than 10.0 mmol/L. Compared with the control group, TG, LDL-C and HDL-C and Crea were significantly increased. Compared with the control group, there was no significant difference in TC and BUN, and the animals could be diagnosed as spontaneous diabetes; Micro-CT results showed that the bone microstructure of spontaneous diabetic cynomolgus monkeys was significantly damaged, showing osteoporosis, and the lower segment of the femur and the upper segment of the tibia were spongy. The trabecular bone area, trabecular bone volume and bone mineral content were significantly lower than those in the control group, while there was no significant difference between the two groups in the cortical bone of the lower femur and upper tibia.
Conclusion: Spontaneous diabetic cynomolgus monkeys have similar clinical characteristics to human diabetic patients, and can be used as an ideal animal model of diabetes and osteoporosis.