Enhanced insulin secretion and cholesterol metabolism in congenic strains of the spontaneously diabetic (Type 2) Goto Kakizaki rat are controlled by independent genetic loci in rat chromosome 8

Aims/hypothesis Genetic investigations in the spontaneously diabetic (Type 2) Goto Kakizaki (GK) rat have identified quantitative trait loci (QTL) for diabetes-related phenotypes. The aims of this study were to refine the chromosomal mapping of a QTL (Nidd/gk5) identified in chromosome 8 of the GK rat and to define a pathophysiological profile of GK gene variants underlying the QTL effects in congenics.