【Animal modeling】-Characteristics of liver pathological damage in db/db mice with spontaneous type 2 diabetes

  Objective: To dynamically observe the pathological changes and characteristics of the liver of db/db mice with spontaneous type 2 diabetes mellitus, and to provide the basic theory and experimental basis for the experimental study of using the liver of db/db mice as a model of type 2 diabetes liver damage.

  Methods: 7-8 weeks old, male, SPF grade db/m mice were used as the control group, and diabetic db/db mice were used as the model group, with 16 mice in each. Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activities were measured, liver index was calculated, and the pathological changes of liver were observed under light and electron microscopes.

  Results: The fasting blood glucose, serum ALT and AST activities of db/db mice were significantly higher than those of db/m mice. Histological examination showed that the liver of db/db mice was severely damaged at the age of 16 weeks, mainly manifested as hepatocytes Steatosis, inflammatory cell infiltration, etc.; at 32 weeks of age, the lesions intensified, and a large number of collagen fibers in the liver tissue can be seen under the microscope; under the electron microscope, the mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum and other structures were destroyed or even disappeared, and obvious lipid droplets and inflammation appeared. Cells and tissues contain a large number of collagen fibers.

  Conclusion: The liver of db/db mice showed obvious steatosis and inflammatory cell infiltration at the age of 16 weeks, and obvious fibrosis at the age of 32 weeks. Therefore, the liver of db/db mice can be used as a good 2 type of diabetic liver injury model.