Biochemical Characteristics of T2DM Animal Models and Their Main Complications

Abstract

This study aims to summarize experimental data on type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and its major complications using mice and rats as animal models, focusing on the patterns of biochemical indicators associated with macrovascular complications, while providing a fundamental reference for experimental research into microvascular complications such as diabetic nephropathy, which are highly prevalent in clinical practice.

Using the keywords “type 2 diabetes mellitus,” “diabetic cardiovascular disease,” “diabetic cerebrovascular disease,” and “diabetic lower limb vascular disease” in the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) and PubMed databases, we screened journal articles on T2DM and macrovascular complications—published between January 1, 2021, and January 1, 2025—and organized and summarized the data on study subjects, disease types, and diagnostic parameters reported in the literature to establish a database for statistical analysis.

A total of 570 articles were selected and included. Among these, the most frequently used biochemical marker in T2DM studies was fasting plasma glucose (FPG). In studies on diabetic cardiovascular disease (DCVD), the most frequently used markers were glycated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), FPG, fasting insulin levels, and inflammatory factors such as tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α); while in studies on diabetic cerebrovascular disease (DCBVD) and diabetic lower extremity arterial disease (DLEAD), the biochemical markers employed were predominantly serum inflammatory factors.

This study systematically analyzed the distribution characteristics of biochemical markers in animal models of T2DM and its macrovascular complications. It provides a reliable reference for the modelling of animal experiments, the selection of markers, and the clinical assessment of various major complications of T2DM, including macrovascular lesions and diabetic nephropathy.