Slc:Wistar outbred rats show close genetic similarity with F344 inbred rats

Although Slc:Wistar rats are used widely in biomedical research as outbred rats, close similarities in growth curves, survival rates, and immunological and biochemical phenotypes have been reported between Slc:Wistar and F344 inbred rats. We reported previously that nine genetic variations that were fixed in Slc:Wistar rats had identical genotypes in F344 rats. Here, we examined the genetic characteristics of Slc:Wistar rats using 27 simple-sequence length polymorphism (SSLP) markers and compared them with other Wistar stocks available in Japan and with some F344 strains. Among 27 SSLP loci, 23 (85%) were fixed in the Slc:Wistar rats, which was the highest among the other Wistar stocks. The 23 fixed loci shared identical genotypes with corresponding loci in F344 rats. Further, the predominant allele types in the unfixed loci had allele frequencies as high as 80%, and these alleles were identical in the F344 rats. When the nine genetic variations reported previously are added, a total of 32 (89%) out of the 36 loci examined were fixed and identical in the Slc:Wistar and F344 rat genomes. These findings indicate the low genetic variation in Slc:Wistar rats and the high genetic similarity between the Slc:Wistar and F344 inbred rats. This study demonstrates the importance of characterizing outbred rats and the need to pay ample attention to the genetic characteristics the Slc:Wistar rats for their proper use.     

Comparison of characteristics between F344 and Slc:Wistar rats--Slc:Wistar rats cannot be distinguished from the F344 strain

With respect to F344/DuCrj and Slc: Wistar rats, both widely used in Japan, it was found that there is a close similarity in the changes of body weights and survival rates, and in the organ distribution and incidence of spontaneous tumors. To examine the degree of homozygosity between F344 and Slc: Wistar strains, tumor transplantation and skin grafting were performed. The bladder carcinomas that originated from F344/DuCrj rats grew subcutaneously in the other F344 strains and Slc: Wistar rats, but did not grow in the other Wistar-derived strains. The skin grafts between F344/DuCrj or F344/NSlc and Slc: Wistar rats were accepted, but those between F344/DuCrj or Slc: Wistar and the other Wistar-derived strains were rejected. These results suggest that Slc: Wistar rats cannot be distinguished genetically from the F344 strain of rats.     

Reexamination of the difference in susceptibility to adjuvant-induced arthritis among LEW/Crj, Slc/Wistar/ST and Slc/SD rats.

The present investigations were performed to assess the differences among rat colonies commonly used for neurophysiological research regarding the development of complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA)-induced arthritis. Inflammatory signs including edema in the paw fluctuated remarkably among individual Wistar (Slc/Wistar/ST) and Sprague-Dawley (Slc/SD) rats, while the inflammatory signs of Lewis (LEW/Crj) rats appeared earlier and was severer and more consistent than Slc/Wistar/ST and Slc/SD rats. Edema in the hind paw developed in 100% of LEW/Crj rats with the lowest dose of CFA (0.6 mg/rat) used as compared with 64% of Slc/Wistar/ST (CFA 1 mg/rat) and 38% of Slc/SD rats (CFA 1.2 mg/rat). Retardation of weight gain was observed in Slc/Wistar/ST and Slc/SD rats in contrast to a severe weight decrease in inflamed LEW/Crj rats after the development of arthritis.     

Spontaneous bone marrow granulomas in rats--effect of ovariectomy on granulomas formation

Spontaneous granulomas developed frequently in the bone marrow of Slc: Wistar female rats over 19 weeks of age, whereas none did in JCL: SD and Slc: SD rats of either sex. These granulomas were composed histologically of epithelioid cells and macrophages clustered mostly in the center and lymphocytes and plasma cells located in the periphery, and they contained neither microorganisms nor foreign bodies. Ovariectomy of Slc: Wistar rats at 6 weeks of age resulted in a significant decrease in the incidence and size of bone marrow granulomas at 20 and 24 weeks of age. It is concluded that two factors, the strain of rats and female sex hormone, contribute to the pathogenesis of bone marrow granulomas--the former as a hereditary disposition and the latter as a promoter.     

海马齿状回神经再生对WKY大鼠抑郁样行为的影响*

目的:观察海马齿状回(DG)神经再生对成年Wistar Kyoto(WKY)大鼠抑郁样行为的影响。方法:实验共分三个组(n = 10):①正常对照(Wistar)组:选取 9 周龄Wistar大鼠,给予生理盐水 3 周(10 mg/kg, 灌胃);②抑郁模型(WKY)组:选取同龄WKY大鼠并经行为学测定后筛选出抑郁大鼠作为抑郁模型组,给予生理盐水 3 周(10 mg/kg, 灌胃);③阳性对照(AMI+WKY)组:选取同龄WKY抑郁大鼠,给予阿米替林(AMI) 3 周(10 mg/kg, 灌胃)。选用免疫荧光染色细胞增殖标记物Ki67、未成熟神经元标志物DCX检测大鼠的海马神经再生水平;应用糖水偏好实验(SPT)、旷场实验(OFT)和强迫游泳实验(FST)检测各组大鼠的抑郁样行为学变化。结果:①WKY抑郁大鼠海马DG区细胞增殖标志物Ki67⁺细胞数和未成熟神经元标志物DCX⁺细胞数较Wistar大鼠分别降低了 33.0%(P＜0.01)和39.2%(P＜0.01);阿米替林给药后使抑郁大鼠海马DG区Ki67⁺细胞数和DCX⁺细胞数分别增加了43.8%(P＜0.01)和46.7%(P＜0.01)。②与Wistar大鼠相比,WKY抑郁大鼠糖水偏好程度明显降低(P＜ 0.01),旷场实验中运动总距离显著缩短(P＜0.01)和中心停留时间显著减少(P＜0.01),强迫游泳实验中不动时间明显延长(P＜ 0.01);阿米替林治疗可显著改善WKY大鼠的上述抑郁样行为。结论:①成年WKY抑郁大鼠的海马神经干细胞的增殖和分化能力较正常对照组显著降低,提示成年WKY抑郁大鼠的神经再生受损;②改善海马受损的神经再生可以部分逆转成年WKY大鼠的抑郁样行为。     

Delayed postnatal behavioral development in spontaneously epileptic rats and tremor rats, and poor operant performance in spontaneously epileptic rats

Postnatal behavioral development and learning ability of operant performance were examined in spontaneously epileptic rats (SER: zi/zi, tm/tm), and the original tremorous mutant strains of rats, tremor rats (tm/tm) and zitter rats (zi/zi) and their controls. Before the eyes opened, the increase in body weight and the age of achieving the righting reflex on a surface were no significantly different between the SER and their littermates without epileptic seizures (SER-N: zi/zi, tm/+ or zi/zi, +/+), and between tremor rats and the original strain Kyo: Wistar rats. After the eyes opened, the increase in body weight, age of achieving the righting reflex in air and traction performance, and the development of rotarod performance, were delayed in SER and tremor rats in comparison with other groups of rats. The zitter rats were apparently inferior in their development of rotarod performance in comparison with the same zitter homozygous SER-N. Operant performance was more inferior in SER than in SER-N and in tremor rats than in Kyo: Wistar rats. The differences were much more marked between SER and SER-N than between tremor and Kyo: Wistar rats. Thus, homologous tm genes and the coexistence of homologous tm and zi genes have an inhibitory effect on postnatal behavioral development and learning ability.     

SkQ1 slows development of age-dependent destructive processes in retina and vascular layer of eyes of wistar and OXYS rats

We show the development of clearly pronounced age-related pathological changes in eye tissues of Wistar and OXYS rats. Photoreceptor cells were virtually absent in all OXYS rats in the age of 24 months. Massive accumulations of lipofuscin granules were detected in the pigmented epithelium cells. Flattening, overgrowing, and degradation of endothelial cells of choriocapillaries were also observed. Along with these changes, vessels without signs of degradation were detected in the pigmented epithelium. In 24-month-old Wistar rats these changes were local and were seen in only some of the animals. The mitochondria-targeted antioxidant SkQ1 (the rats were given SkQ1 daily with food at the dose of 250 nmol/kg for 5 months, starting from the age of 19 months) prevented the development of these pathological changes in both Wistar and OXYS rats. The data were subjected to mathematical processing and statistical analysis.     

Sensitivity of spontaneously epileptic rats to external stimuli that induce seizures

The sensitivity of spontaneously epileptic rats (SER), double homozygotes of zitter and tremor mutations, to external stimuli that induce seizures was studied in comparison with tremor (tm/tm) and zitter (zi/zi) rats, and with normal Kyo: Wistar and F 344/N rats. Touching their body, a blinking light (1200 lux, 1 sec interval) or a big sound (8 and 12 kHz, 95 dB) induced tonic extension only in the SER. The response frequency was 22 to 44% at 9 weeks of age and 75 to 100% at 13 weeks of age. Electric stimulus at 30 mA induced tonic-clonic convulsions in all Kyo: Wistar and F 344/N rats. At 20 mA the incidence of seizures decreased with age, from 100% at 5 weeks of age to 33% at 13 weeks of age in Kyo: Wistar rats and from 100 to 71% in F344/N rats. In SER, 10-mA stimuli induced tonic extension at 9 and 13 weeks of age, and 20 and 30 mA induced tonic convulsions, generalized or partial convulsions, and wild jumping or running episodes at 5, 9 and 13 weeks of age. At 30 mA, the incidence of convulsive seizures decreased with age in both tremor (tm/tm) and zitter (zi/zi) rats. Apparently external stimuli acted as simple triggers in the induction of tonic extension, since characteristic tonic extension is induced in the SER by each of the stimuli used in the present study, and induced convulsions closely resembled spontaneously occurring convulsions. The threshold of external stimuli in the induction of tonic extension became lower with aging in the SER, indicating that they are appropriate models for evaluating anticonvulsant drugs, as reported previously.     

Hypertensive syndrome and changes of water-salt metabolism in the OXYS rats with early ageing

Peculiarities of drinking behavior and ion deposit capacity have been studied in Wistar and OXYS rats using chronic salt loading. Increased arterial blood pressure in OXYS as compared with Wistar rats has been registered already in the age of 1.5 months. The difference between the two lines persisted up to the age of 18 months. Differences in drinking behavior were also detected: saline consumption in Wistar rats was increased up to 99 ml/day, whereas the OXYS rats revealed a diminished salt appetite. It has been found that tissues of the OXYS rats were characterized by pronounced ion deposit capacity under standard diet conditions as well as after intensive sodium input.     

Anthropometrical parameters and markers of obesity in rats

The present study was undertaken to determine anthropometrical parameters in male adult Wistar rats. We tested the hypothesis that the anthropometrical index may identify obesity and may predict its adverse effects on lipid profile and oxidative stress in rats. Two experimental protocols were performed. In the first experiment, 50 male Wistar rats, 21 days old and fed a control chow were studied up to 150 days of age. In the second experiment, male Wistar rats, 60 days old, were divided into three groups (n = 8): control (C) given free access to a control chow; (S) receiving the control chow and drinking 30% sucrose ad libitum and (HC) fed a high-carbohydrate diet ad libitum. The first experiment showed that food consumption, energy intake and body weight increased with increasing age, while specific rate of body mass gain was significantly decreased. There were no significant differences in body length and thoracic circumference of rats from 60 days of age. The abdominal circumference (AC) and body mass index (BMI) significantly increased with enhancing age in rats up to 90 days of age and remained constant thereafter. In the second experiment, after 30 days of dietary treatment, the final body weight, body mass gain, carcass fat and BMI were higher in S and HC rats than in C. There were no significant alterations in body length and carcass protein among the groups. Triacylglycerol (TG), total cholesterol (CT), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and lipid hydroperoxide (LH) were higher in S and HC rats than in C. High-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) decreased in HC rats and total antioxidant substances (TAS) decreased in S and HC rats. There were positive correlations between BMI with carcass fat, BMI with LH and BMI and serum TG concentration. In conclusion, the BMI for male adult Wistar rats ranged between 0.45 and 0.68 g/cm(2). Obesity may be easily estimated from the BMI in rats. Alterations in BMI were associated with dyslipidemic profile and oxidative stress in serum of rats and BMI may predict these adverse consequences of the obesity in rats.     

Electrocardiographical findings of WBN/Kob rats

Electrocardiographical (ECG) investigations were carried out on 4 and 12 week old WBN/Kob and Wistar male rats. In comparison with Wistar rats which showed ECG findings typical of those of normal rats, WBN/Kob rats showed significantly larger QRS complex amplitude, smaller T wave amplitude, longer QRS duration, and longer QT interval at 4 weeks of age. This tendency became clearer at 12 weeks of age. There were no changes in serum inorganic ion concentrations or cardiac histopathology suggestive of these ECG changes in WBN/Kob rats. These ECG findings in WBN/Kob rats are considered to be a hereditary characteristic of the strain.     

Excess diet copper increases systolic blood pressure in rats

Twenty Wistar and 20 Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats were divided into two diet copper intake groups at 5 wk of age. One group was fed 18 mg Cu as cupric carbonate/kg feed and the other group 100 mg Cu/kg feed. The basal diet was formulated after the AIN-76 diet. Animals were fed their respective diets until 20 wk of age. At age 8, 14, and 20 wk rats were placed in metabolic cages and food and water consumption as well as urine output were quantitated. Systolic blood pressures were measured triweekly by the tail-cuff method. Rats fed 100 mg Cu/kg feed showed an increase in systolic pressure compared to rats fed 18 mg Cu/kg feed. The increase was more pronounced for the Wistar strain. Body weights, urine output, and feed and water consumption did not differ (p>0.05) by copper intake. Rats fed 100 mg Cu/kg feed did have greater hemoglobin levels. Heart: body and liver: body weight strain differences were apparent. This study demonstrated increased blood pressure in rats fed excess diet copper.     

A combined treatment with ethanol and 6-dimethylaminopurine is effective for the activation and further embryonic development of oocytes from Sprague-Dawley and Wistar rats

In nuclear-transferred or round spermatid-injected oocytes, artificial activation is required for further development in mammals. Although strontium chloride is widely used as the reagent for inducing oocyte activation in mice, the optimal method for oocyte activation remains controversial in rats because ovulated rat oocytes are spontaneously activated in vitro before artificial activation is applied. In our previous study, we found that cytostatic factor activity, which is indispensable for arrest at the MII stage, is potentially low in rats and that this activity differs greatly between two outbred rats (Slc: Sprague-Dawley (SD) and Crj: Wistar). Therefore, it is necessary to establish an optimal protocol for oocyte activation independent of strains. Given that comparative studies of the in vitro development of oocytes activated by different activation protocols are very limited, we compared four different protocols for oocyte activation (ethanol, ionomycin, strontium and electrical pulses) in two different SD and Wistar rats. Our results show that oocytes derived from SD rats have significantly higher cleavage and blastocyst formation than those from Wistar rats independent of activation regimes. In both types of rat, ethanol treatment provided significantly higher developmental ability at cleavage and blastocyst formation compared to the other activation protocols. However, the initial culture in a fertilization medium (high osmolarity mR1ECM) for 24 h showed a detrimental effect on the further in vitro development of parthenogenetic rat oocytes. Taken together, our results show that ethanol treatment is the optimal protocol for the activation of rat oocytes in SD and Wistar outbred rats. Our data also suggest that high-osmolarity media are inadequate for the in vitro development of parthenogenetically activated oocytes compared with fertilized oocytes.     

Natural dental caries in molars of osteogenic disorder Shionogi rats

Osteogenic disorder Shionogi (ODS) rats are genetically defective in ascorbic acid biosynthesis. They exhibit a gait abnormality due to dysfunctional bone formation and display various dental abnormalities. Conditions of the oral cavity and tooth quality both influence the development of dental caries. This study was designed to determine the characteristics of dental caries in ODS/ ShiJclod/od rats. Caries were scored and compared among ODS/ShiJclod/od, ODS/ShiJcl+/+, and Jcl:Wistar retired breeders. Among male rats, the caries scores of the ODS/ShiJclod/od and ODS/ShiJcl+/+ groups were similar to each other but greater than those in Jcl:Wistar rats, whereas among female rats, caries scores in ODS/ShiJclod/od animals were equivalent to or somewhat greater than those in ODS/ShiJcl+/+ rats, whose scores were markedly greater than those of Jcl:Wistar rats. The results suggest that ODS/ShiJcl rats were more susceptible to dental caries than were Jcl:Wistar rats. Under the conditions of the study, caries scores between ODS/ ShiJclod/od and ODS/ShiJcl+/+ rats differed only among parous females.     

Myocardial hypertrophy of normotensive Wistar-Kyoto rats

In our studies with spontaneously hypertensive (SHR), Wistar-Kyoto (WKY), and Wistar rats, we observed normotensive WKY rats with cardiac hypertrophy determined by a greater left ventricular (LV) mass (LVM)-to-body weight (BW) ratio (LVM/BW) than that of normotensive Wistar rats. Thus we compared the following parameters in SHR, WKY, and Wistar rats: LVM/BW, cell capacitance as index of total surface area of the myocytes, length, width, and cross-sectional area of cardiac myocytes, LV collagen volume fraction, and myocardial stiffness. The LVM/BW of WKY (2.41 +/- 0.03 mg/g, n = 41) was intermediate between SHR (2.82 +/- 0.04 mg/g, n = 47) and Wistar rats (1.98 +/- 0.04 mg/g, n = 28). A positive correlation between blood pressure and LVM was found in SHR, whereas no such relationship was observed in WKY or Wistar rats. Cell capacitance and cross-sectional area were not significantly different in SHR and WKY rats; these values were significantly higher than those of Wistar rats. The cell length was smaller but the width was similar in WKY compared with SHR. Papillary muscles isolated from the LV of WKY and SHR were stiffer than those from Wistar rats. Consistently, a greater level of myocardial fibrosis was detected in WKY and SHR compared with Wistar rats. These findings demonstrate blood pressure-independent cardiac hypertrophy in normotensive WKY rats.     

Age-dependent ultrastructural changes of coronary artery in spontaneously hypertensive rats

The age-dependent differences in basic cardiovascular parameters, geometry and structure of coronary arteries between Wistar and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) were evaluated. SHR of the age 3-, 9-, 17-, and 52-week and age-matched Wistar rats were used. Blood pressure (BP) was measured by the plethysmographic method. Animals were perfused with a glutaraldehyde fixative under pressure of 90 mmHg (3-week-old) and 120 mmHg (9-, 17-, 52-week-old). Coronary arteries were processed for electron microscopy. The proportions and cross sectional areas (CSA) of extracellular matrix in intima and media, endothelial and muscle cells were determined by point counting method. Cardiac hypertrophy and except of 3-week-old rats also BP increase and coronary wall hypertrophy was found in all ontogenic periods in SHR compared to Wistar rats. Arterial wall hypertrophy was evoked by increase of CSA of medial extracellular matrix and smooth muscle cells. In 52-week-old SHR, CSA of muscle cells did not differ from that in 17-week-old SHR but the CSA of intimal and medial extracellular matrix significantly increased. The CSA of endothelial cells and CSA of intimal extracellular matrix were increased only in 52-week-old SHR. The independency between BP and trophicity of individual components of the coronary wall during ontogeny of SHR was documented.     

Alterations of lymphocyte count and platelet volume precede cerebrovascular lesions in stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats

Abstract

Background: Cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) is associated with future stroke. Although pathological alteration in small vessels of patients with CSVD can be detected by neuroimaging, diagnosis of CSVD is delayed because it is an asymptomatic disease. The stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHRSP) show similar pathological features to human CSVD and develop stroke-related symptoms with advancing age.

Objective: We investigated the time course of haematological parameters in Wistar rats and SHRSP.

Material and Methods: Blood cells were analysed using an automated haematological analyser.

Results: SHRSP develop stroke-related symptoms including onset of neurological symptoms, decreased body weight and blood brain barrier leakage between 12 and 14?weeks of age. Lymphocyte counts were gradually decreased at 3?weeks before development of stoke-related symptoms and then were further decreased after the development of stroke-related symptoms. The both mean platelet volume and large platelet ratio gradually increased at 3?weeks before the development of stoke-related symptoms. However, although SHRSP showed more microcytic red cells than Wistar rats, the trajectories of change in erythrocyte-related parameters were similar between Wistar rats and SHRSP.

Conclusion: Our pilot study suggests that alterations of lymphocyte count and platelet volume predictive indicators for asymptomatic CSVD and symptomatic stroke in SHRSP.     

Large granular lymphocytic (LGL) leukemia in rats exposed to intermittent 60 Hz magnetic fields

An animal model for large granular lymphocytic (LGL) leukemia in male Fischer 344 rats was utilized to determine whether magnetic field exposure can be shown to influence the progression of leukemia. We previously reported that exposure to continuous 60 Hz, 1 mT magnetic fields did not significantly alter the clinical progression of LGL leukemia in young male rats following injection of spleen cells from donor leukemic rats. Results presented here extend those studies with the following objectives: (a) to replicate the previous study of continuous 60 Hz magnetic field exposures, but using fewer LGL cells in the inoculum, and (b) to determine if intermittent 60 Hz magnetic fields can alter the clinical progression of leukemia. Rats were randomly assigned to four treatment groups (18/group) as follows: (1) 1 mT (10 G) continuous field, (2) 1 mT intermittent field (off/on at 3 min intervals), (3) ambient controls ( < 0.1 microT), and (4) positive control (5 Gy whole body irradiation from cobalt-60 four days prior to initiation of exposure). All rats were injected intraperitoneally with 2.2 x 10(6) fresh, viable LGL leukemic spleen cells at the beginning of the study. The fields were activated for 20 h per day, 7 days per week, and all exposure conditions were superimposed over the natural ambient magnetic field. The rats were weighed and palpated for splenomegaly weekly. Splenomegaly developed 9-11 weeks after transplantation of the leukemia cells. Hematological evaluations were performed at 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, and 16 weeks of exposure. Peripheral blood hemoglobin concentration, red blood cells, and packed cell volume declined, and total white blood cells and LGL cells increased dramatically in all treatment groups after onset of leukemia. Although the positive control group showed different body weight curves and developed signs of leukemia earlier than other groups, differences were not detected between exposure groups and ambient controls. Furthermore, there were no overall effects of magnetic fields on splenomegaly or survival in exposed animals. In addition, no significant and/or consistent differences were detected in hematological parameters between the magnetic field exposed and the ambient control groups.     

Estrogen synthesis in the stomach of Sprague-Dawley rats: comparison to Wistar rats

Aromatase, an estrogen synthase, exists in the gastric parietal cells of Wistar rats. The stomach synthesizes large amounts of estrogens and secretes them into the portal vein. We have been particularly studying gastric estrogen synthesis using Wistar rats. However, estrogen synthesis in the stomach of Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats, which are used as frequently as those of the Wistar strain, has not been clarified. We examined steroid synthesis in the stomach of SD rats using immunohistochemistry, in situ hybridization, Western blotting, real-time PCR, and LC-MS/MS. Aromatase also exists in the stomach of SD rats. Its distribution was not found to be different from that of Wistar rats. Results show that H⁺/K⁺-ATPase β-subunit and aromatase colocalized in double immunofluorescence staining. Each steroid synthase downstream from progesterone was present in the gastric mucosa. These results suggest that steroid hormones are synthesized in the parietal cells in the same pathway as Wistar rats. Although mRNA expression of steroid synthases were higher in SD, no significant difference was found in the amount of protein and each steroid hormone level in the portal vein. Although differences between strains might exist in steroid hormone synthesis, results show that SD rats are as useful as Wistar rats for gastric estrogen synthesis experimentation.     

Effects of age and anesthetic on plasma glucose and insulin levels and insulin sensitivity in spontaneously hypertensive and Wistar rats

We examined the effects of anesthetic, age, and strain on oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTT, 1 g/kg body weight) and intraperitoneal glucose tolerance tests (IPGTT, 2 g/kg body weight) in spontaneously hypertensive (SH) and Wistar rats. Pentobarbital anesthesia caused an elevation in basal glucose and insulin levels in Wistar rats at 9 and 16 weeks of age and in SH rats at 9 weeks. Anesthesia increased the insulin output during an OGTT in both strains of rats while glucose was unchanged. Anesthesia reduced the insulin sensitivity index calculated from the OGTT but not from the IPGTT data. The age of the rats (9-11 vs. 16-18 weeks) had no effect on the basal glucose or insulin levels, but older Wistar rats had a greater insulin output following oral glucose and older SH rats had a greater insulin output following intraperitoneal glucose. On the basis of the insulin sensitivity index, SH rats were clearly more insulin resistant than age-matched Wistar rats. The SH rats also had higher basal insulin levels, as well as higher insulin output, following both glucose challenges. In summary, SH rats are more insulin resistant than Wistar rats, and anesthesia, which elevated basal glucose and insulin levels and increased the insulin output in response to a glucose challenge, may increase insulin resistance.