Original Article Differential Functional Deficits in Type 1 Versus Type 2 Diabetic Mice Models

Introduction: Types 1 and 2 diabetes have different causative mechanisms. Hence, different extent of cardiovascular, cognitive and auditory functions could be expected. Materials and methods: Body weight, blood glucose were measured in Wild type(WT), Akita and db/db mice(n=6 each). Blood pressure, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), Novel object recognition test (NORT), auditory brainstem response(ABR) were measured/elucidated. Results: Compared to WT, body weight was significantly less in Akita (p=0.004), more in db/db (p=0.001). Blood glucose (p=0.0002 for Akita; p=0.0003 for db/db), blood pressure (p=0.01 for Akita; p=0.02 for db/db), LVEF (p=0.0002 for Akita; p=0.0008 for db/db), NORT-calculated discrimination index (p=0.05 for Akita, db/db) were similar in both types of diabetic mice. ABR threshold was more elevated in Akita (p=0.01) than db/db(p=0.0004). Conclusion: Cardiovascular/cognitive functions were impaired in both types of diabetics. The significantly greater ABR impairment in db/db mice than in Akita mice is probably due to several concurrent mechanisms affecting the cochlea in db/db mice.