Clinicopathologic Characterization of Naturally Occurring Diabetes Mellitus in Vervet Monkeys

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a group of chronic metabolic diseases characterized by persistent fasting hyperglycemia, and it can be of either polygenic or monogenic origin. Animal models have played an important role in elucidating the pathophysiology of the polygenic Type 1 and type 2 DM forms; however, useful animal models of the monogenic forms do not exist. The authors describe 4 cases of naturally occurring DM in vervet monkeys (Chlorocebus aethiops sabaeus), 1 of which has clinicopathologic findings consistent with type 2 DM, including persistent hyperglycemia, hypertriglyceridemia, islet amyloidosis, and reduced islet insulin immunostaining. In contrast, the 3 remaining animals have clinicopathologic similarities to a monogenic form of the disease, including a lack of islet amyloidosis and hypertriglyceridemia, as well as normal islet insulin immunostaining. In addition, pedigree analysis conducted on one of these animals is consistent with either an autosomal dominant or mitochondrial inheritance pattern, which supports a monogenic form of DM. The authors thus hypothesize that a naturally occurring monogenic form of diabetes may occur in vervet monkeys, making them a potential animal model for future studies.