Early hepatic fat content as a predictor for later development of type 2 diabetes

Aims: New Zealand Obese (NZO) mice are an established model of the metabolic syndrome and sexually dimorphic susceptibility to type 2 diabetes. Males develop hyperglycemia that turns into diabetes even on standard diet, while females are protected unless they are fed with high-fat diet that contains 60 energy per cent from fat. The aim of this study was to examine the influence of fat distribution on onset and development of type 2 diabetes in female NZO mice. Methods: Female NZO mice were kept on SD (9% fat) and HFD (60% fat) for 24 weeks. Body fat distribution and liver fat content were determined by computed…