Effectiveness of different experimental models of metabolic disorders in animals

The objective of this study was to induce metabolic disorders in rats with changes in diet and environmental factors. The animals were divided in groups (n=10): control with standard diet; standard dietwith environmental change (change Light-dark cycle – 14h/10h); cafeteria diet 1 (richer in fat); and cafeteria diet 2 (richer in sugar). Animal weight and food intake were monitored weekly. A glucose tolerance test was performed monthly. After twelve weeks of treatment, the animals were euthanized. There were significant differences in weight gain especially after the third month of treatment. The groups that received cafeteria diet 1 and 2 had lower food intake compared to the control group and environmental change group. Higher values of cholesterol and HDL cholesterol occurred in the control group, showing significant differences compared to cafeteria diet 1 and 2 groups. After2 months, glucose levels inthe environmental alteration and cafeteria diet 2 groups showed a tendency to rise faster than in the control and cafeteria diet 1 groups. It was observed that even diets cited in the literature as effective in inducing metabolic disorders, did not result in the complete establishment of the disease in the animals tested.