Abstract
Diabetes mellitus is a growing health concern both abroad and within South Africa, as 8.3% of the entire South African population was estimated to be afflicted with this condition in 2013 and is projected to increase to 9.9% by 2035. Most T2DM animal models have defective leptin signalling, which does not mirror the human condition. The aim of the study was to investigate the type 2 diabetes related changes in the neuroanatomy and neurogenic activity of the Zucker Diabetic Sprague Dawley (ZDSD) rat, a rodent model with an intact leptin signalling pathway. The ZDSD rats were monitored for the development of T2DM, by measuring changes in body mass, fasting blood glucose, insulin resistance and lipid profiles. The anatomical structure (volume and cell counts) of the ZDSD rat hippocampus was assessed with Cresyl violet staining. The neurogenic activity within the model was assessed with Ki-67 and DCX immunohistochemistry. Changes in the concentration of serum analytes (MDA and BDNF) were also measured in the ZDSD rats...
M.Tech. (Biomedical Technology)