Progress on nonhuman primate models of diabetes mellitus

Diabetes is the third most severely chronic disease after cardiovascular disease and cancer. World Health Organization (WHO) estimated 220 million diabetes patients worldwide in 2009. The rational animal models of diabetes are necessary for understanding the mechanisms of diabetes, diagnosis and prevention of diabetes as well as screen and evaluation of new drugs for diabetes treatment. Compared to other animal models of diabetes, the causes and symptoms of diabetes of nonhuman primates is more like human diabetes. We here reviewed the reported nonhuman primate models of diabetes based on the sources they were generated; especially focused on three models, Macaca mullata, M. fascicularis, Tupaia belangeri. Furthermore, we discussed the perspective development of nonhuman primate models of diabetes mellitus.