Improving the Reliability and Utility of Streptozotocin-Induced Rat Diabetic Model

Figure 5

Plasma levels of inflammatory cytokines after a STZ injection. Plasma was collected 2, 4, and 9 weeks after a STZ injection to measure inflammatory cytokines. STZ challenge significantly increased IL-4 (a), IL-6 (b), VEGF (c), and TNF-α ((d), week 4 only) levels in diabetic rats without antidiabetic treatment. Mean ± s.e. Student’s t-test, , –6/diabetic group, –6/sham group, , (compared to sham group).

(a) IL-4 (anti-inflame-cytokine)

(b) IL-6 (anti-inflame-cytokine)

(c) VEGF (growth factor)

(d) TNF-α (pro-inflame-cytokine)