Sand Rats

Nomenclature: HsdHu:Sand Rat

Sand Rat Origin

• Maintained at Hebrew University in Israel.

Sand Rat Characteristics

• Coat color: Brown/Agouti
• Litter average: 2.5
• Psammomys obesus
• Low reproductive performance
• Disposition: Docile
• Two outbred genetically distinct lines
  • Diabetes prone (DP)
  • Diabetes resistant (DR)

Sand Rat Research Use

• Nutritionally induced type II diabetes
  • Induced within 14 days by feeding a high-energy diet ( Teklad Global Diet 2018SC) to Diabetes Prone strain
• Obesity and insulin resistance
• Diabetic angiopathy
• Regulation of lipoprotein lipase activity
• Beta cell activity
• Diabetic cataract
• Vertebral degeneration

Harlan Laboratories' Production

• Hebrew University maintains the Diabetes Prone strain on a Low Energy Teklad Diet 3084.15 and the Diabetes Resistant strain on Teklad Global Diet 2018SC