The mice develop hyperglycemia, hyperinsulinemia, glucose intolerance and obesity by 8 weeks of age.
Studies using isolated adipocytes indicate that tissue responsiveness to insulin is decreased.
These findings suggest that the principal cause of diabetes in these mice is insulin resistance. At the time the mice were acquired, they had been inbred for 100 generations. The breeding performance is good with an average litter size of 6. No special animal husbandry requirements are necessary. References Chang AY, Wyse BM, Copeland EJ, Peterson T, Ledbetter SR. 1986.