Our objective of current study was to investigate the development of bone and heart in association with diabetes mellitus (DM). DM was induced by administering an intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ; 60 mg/kg) to 4‐gweek‐gold Sprague‐gDawley rats. Body weight and blood glucose were monitored, and rats were sacrificed after 2 or 5 weeks. The left ventricle (LV), including the interventricular septum, was weighed, and body weight and tibial bone length were assessed. Young diabetic rats showed reduced growth in terms of tibial length and body weight compared to controls. Moreover, diabetic males showed more significant growth suppression and reduced LV size than diabetic females. Morphometric analysis of tibiae from diabetic rats revealed suppressed bone growth at 2 and 5 weeks, with no difference between genders. STZ‐ginduced diabetes decreased bone growth and retarded pre‐gpubertal heart development. As a result, diabetes may increase cardiovascular risk factors and lead to eventual heart failure. Therefore, new therapeutic approaches are required for diabetic children exhibiting growth retardation. Heart growth factor, exercise, and cardiopulmonary physical therapy may be required to promote heart development and physiological function.

ABSTRACT   INTRODUCTION   MATERIALS AND METHODS   RESULTS   DISCUSSION   REFERENCES

• Joo-Heon Kim(Institute of Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju 660-701, Korea)
• Youngjeon Lee(Deaprtment of Rehabilitation Science in Interdisciplinary PhD Program, Graduate School of Inje University, Gimhae 621-749, Korea)
• Sangun Lee(Department of Physical Therapy, Aomori University of Health and Welfare, Aomori 030-8505, Japan)
• Takao Suzuki(Department of Physical Therapy, Aomori University of Health and Welfare, Aomori 030-8505, Japan)
• Sang-Kil Lee(Cardiovascular & Metabolic Disease Center, College of Biomedical Science & Engineering, Inje University, Gimhae 621-749, Korea)
• Taeyoung Kang(College of Veterinary Medicine, Jeju National University, Jeju 690-756, Korea)
• Yonggeun Hong(2Deaprtment of Rehabilitation Science in Interdisciplinary PhD Program, Graduate School of Inje University, Gimhae 621-749, Korea/Cardiovascular & Metabolic Disease Center, College of Biomedical Science & Engineering, Inje University, Gimhae 621-749, Korea)