Animal Research Model
Cardiovascular disease is considered the major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Over the past several years, enormous achievements have been made in the management of cardiovascular disease, which has depended on the use of experimental animal models. A few of the animals they use for heart disease animal research are rats, mice, dogs, rabbits, and cats.
Mice- Mice are the preferred model for heart disease due to small size, ease of handling, low cost, and ability to manipulate genome.
Dogs- Dogs were one of the first animals historically used for modeling the human heart. They also had very similar heart problems to those of humans, and their heart size made it easy to study them.
Rabbits- Combine the features of small animals but have a larger heart which makes observation easier.
Porcine (Pigs)- Have one of the best models for heart disease but they are expensive and require complex handling.
Rats- Rats are best for heart damage models because of their larger heart size but have similar characteristics of mice.
Cats- Are used to research treatments and cures for people (mainly females) with Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM).
Journal of Biomedicine and Biotechnology Volume 2011 (2011), "Article ID 497841", 13 pages Retrieved (April 12, 2017) from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2011/497841
NCBI (September 15, 2016) “Small mammalian animal models of heart disease” retrived (April 12, 2017) form https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5030387/
Animal Research with Cats
Animal models have been a great resource in improving treatments for heart disease. Cardiac diseases similar or identical to those in humans are extremely common in companion animals and are models of human cardiac disease. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is currently the most common heart disease in cats that is also found in human females. HCM is currently the most common heart disease in cats, and it appears to be increasing. A specific breed, the Maine Coon, has a genetic mutation that makes the breed prone to suffer from HCM. These cats help researchers figure out a way to cure and treat people and cats with HCM. - Cristal J
NCBI (September 15, 2016) “Small mammalian animal models of heart disease” retrived (April 12, 2017) form https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5030387/
NCBI (September 15, 2016) “Small mammalian animal models of heart disease” retrived (April 12, 2017) form https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5030387/
Animal Research in Rabbits- Heart Disease
Rabbits have been used to model heart disease because it is relatively cheap, easy to maintain, and the WHHLMI strain of rabbits is not prone plaque ruptures. Rabbits also have heart aneurysms that are similar to humans. Rabbits also model hyper tension and atherosclerosis. Some strains of rabbits have a blood pressure three to seven times greater than humans which make them great to study plaque deposits, but most of these rabbits die from a heart attack in early childhood. Rabbits are a comprimise solution to largeer or smaller animals. -Joshua J
Zaragoza C. et al.(2011), "Animal Models of Cardiovascular Diseases". Retrieved (April 12, 2017) from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2011/497841
Zaragoza C. et al.(2011), "Animal Models of Cardiovascular Diseases". Retrieved (April 12, 2017) from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2011/497841