Abstract
Animal Models of Diabetes is composed of 17 chapters and provides useful information regarding the selection of an appropriate diabetic model animal. The book lists various types of diabetic models and covers the major models of type-1 and type-2 diabetes. Specifically, the NOD mouse, KK mouse, ZDF rat, GK rat, and OLETF rat are each allocated an individual chapter. In addition, the book describes the method for developing the type-2 diabetic rat by neonatal injection of streptozotocin. Although the index at the end of the book lacks specific detail, readers are able to obtain necessary information quickly, because the first page of each chapter lists the chapter contents. Although the contents of each chapter are not unified throughout the book, each chapter includes a description of the model animal's history of establishment. The chapters also provide the genomic background, biological characteristics, mechanisms of incidence, pathogenesis of complications, and availability of each model animal. These descriptions are based on experimental evidence, and include numerous citations of up-to-date references. The number of tables and diagrams is adequate, but not excessive; however, pathologists will find the number of photographs indicating histopathological features of each model animal to be insufficient. Furthermore, most of the histopathological photographs are in black and white and are printed on low-quality paper. Therefore, this book is of questionable value as a source of histopathological information on diabetic model animals. However, this book is valuable as a general reference for researchers hesitant about the selection of diabetic model animals for experiments. Overall, this book is a good guide when selecting diabetic model animals. I recommend that veterinary pathologists read this book before beginning experiments using diabetic model animals.