樹鼩作為靈長類動物的近親,，是一種新型的實驗動物,，在生物醫(yī)學上的應用越來越受到重視。但是，樹鼩是否和人類一樣,，其體重和血糖值也與性別和年齡有關,，可以作為人類代謝性疾病研究的動物模型？為解決這一問題,，昆明動物研究所梁斌課題組對飼養(yǎng)在昆明動物所實驗動物中心的992只樹鼩（雄性,，454只；雌性,，538 只,；年齡，4個月-4歲）的體重,、血糖和年齡,、性別的關系進行了研究。他們發(fā)現(xiàn)：雄性樹鼩的體重和血糖值均顯著高于雌性樹鼩（P<0.001）,。在雄性樹鼩中,，血糖值會隨著體重增加而上升；而在雌性樹鼩中,，體重,、血糖和腰圍值隨著年齡的增長而增加。
另外,，為了探討樹鼩肥胖是否與糖脂代謝異常有關,，對Lee氏指數(shù)（Lee Index = body weight (g)*0.33*1000/body length (cm)）大于290(代表肥胖樹鼩)和低于290的樹鼩（正常體重樹鼩）的生長特征及血液生理生化指標進行了比較，發(fā)現(xiàn)肥胖樹鼩的體重,、腰圍和糖化血紅蛋白（HbA1c）均顯著高于體重正常的樹鼩,，表明樹鼩肥胖會引起糖代謝紊亂。另外,，還發(fā)現(xiàn)有6只樹鼩出現(xiàn)了早期代謝綜合癥癥狀,，如顯著的高血脂，高糖化血紅蛋白含量,，及口服葡萄糖不耐受等,。
這些研究結(jié)果表明，樹鼩體重,、血糖和年齡與性別之間的關系與人類和非人靈長類動物非常相似,，表明樹鼩可以作為人類代謝性疾病研究的動物模型。
該文章于近期在線發(fā)表于Journal of Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition上（生物谷Bioon.com）
doi:10.1111/jpn.12036
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PMID:
Relationships between body weight, fasting blood glucose concentration, sex and age in tree shrews (Tupaia belangeri chinensis)
X. Wu1,†,*, Q. Chang1,†, Y. Zhang1,†, X. Zou2, L. Chen3, L. Zhang1, L. Lv1, B. Liang1,*
The tree shrew (Tupaia belangeri chinensis) is a squirrel-like lower primate or a close relative of primates, commonly used as an animal model in biomedical research. Despite more than three decades of usage in research, the clear relationships between body weight, fasting blood glucose concentration, sex and age among tree shrews remain unclear. Based on an investigation of 992 tree shrews (454 males and 538 females) aged between 4 months and 4 years old, we found that male tree shrews have significantly higher body weight and fasting blood glucose concentration than female tree shrews (p < 0.001). The concentration of fasting blood glucose slightly increased with body weight in males (r = 0.152, p < 0.001). Meanwhile, in females, the body weight, concentration of fasting blood glucose and waist circumference positively increased with age (p < 0.001). Additionally, 17 tree shrews with Lee index [body weight (g)*0.33*1000/body length (cm)] above 290 had significantly higher body weight, waist circumference and glycated haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) than non-obese tree shrews with a Lee index score below 290 (p < 0.001). Interestingly, 6 of 992 tree shrews (three males and three females, 2–4 years old) displayed impaired plasma triglycerides, HbA1c, low-density lipoprotein and oral glucose tolerance test, suggestive of the early symptoms of metabolic syndrome. This study provides the first clear relationships between body weight, fasting blood glucose concentration, sex and age in tree shrews, further improving our understanding of this relationship in metabolic syndrome (MetS). Given the similarity of tree shrews to humans and non-human primates, this finding supports their potential use as an animal model in the research of MetS.
