The mechanisms of adipogenic diabetes in Zucker diabetic fatty (ZDF) rats, a model of obesity complicated by diabetes, ave I reviewed. In ZDF rats, a mutation in the leptin receptor OB-R, is associated with leptin resistance obesity and increased fat content of islets, Exaggerated nitric oxide (NO) generation, attributed to high intracellular levels of long-chain fatty acids, impairs beta-cell function and prevents their compensation for obesity-induced diabetes. The resulting diabetic hyperglycemia can be completely prevented by agents that inhibit NO production. (C) 1997, Elsevier Science Inc.