Streptozotocin-nicotinamide-induced rat model of type 2 diabetes (review)

Diabetes is one of the five leading causes of death in the world, with type 2 diabetes occurring more frequently than type 1. Management of diabetes without side effects is still a challenge and therefore new strategies need to be examined. Because of difficulties in human research, animal models of diabetes are useful research tools for this purpose and rodent models of type 2 diabetes are the first choice. The aim of this study is an overview on one of the most frequently used models of type 2 diabetes in rat, induced by streptozotocin and nicotinamide, considering its advantages and disadvantages for diabetes research in humans.