Generation of the Maternal Low-Protein Rat Model for Studies of Metabolic Disorders.

Poor nutrition during pregnancy leads to an increased risk of metabolic disorders and other diseases in the offspring. This can be modelled in animals through manipulation of the maternal diet. One such model is the maternal low-protein rat which gives rise to offspring characterized by insulin resistance. This chapter gives a detailed protocol for generation of the maternal low-protein rat, which has been used in the study of several disorders including diabetes and psychiatric disorders.