Manipulation of adipose tissue protects BB rats from type 1 diabetes development

Background and aims: We breed type-1 diabetic BB rats since more than 25 years. Days before BB rats become diabetes their body seems to be flabby which may be attributed to loss of subcutaneous fat. This observation led to the idea that transplantation of adipose tissue may protect BB rats from diabetes. Material and methods: 9 complete litters of BB rats (53M: 55F)) were subcutaneously grafted with 1g visceral adipose tissue of sex and MHC matched congenic, but non-diabetic BB rat strains at an age of 4 weeks. Sham operated and untreated BB rats (20M: 21F) served as controls. In addition, BB rats which remained…