Technical challenges in small animal models for mimicking human ischemic cardiovascular diseases

Abstract

Animal models are essential for exploring pathophysiology and testing novel therapy options of human metabolic cardiovascular diseases. Several small animal models have been developed during the last decades to study effects on myocardial infarct size, healing or cardiac remodeling and thus outcome after ligation of a left coronary artery. The present review describes the value and limitations of small animal models mimicking human ischemic myocardial insult and offers technical tips for using them. A perspective on future improved small animal models mimicking human cardiovascular diseases is also given.