Animal models of human pregnancy and placentation: alternatives to the mouse

Abstract

The mouse is often criticized as a model for pregnancy research as gestation is short, with much of organ development completed postnatally. There are also differences in the structure and physiology of the placenta between mouse and human. This review considers eight alternative models that recently have been proposed and two established ones that seem underutilized. A promising newcomer among rodents is the spiny mouse, which has a longer gestation than the mouse with organogenesis complete at birth. The guinea pig is also recommended both because it has well-developed neonates and because there is a wealth of information on pregnancy and placentation in the literature. Several smaller primates are considered. The mouse lemur has its advocates yet is less suited as a model for human pregnancy as its young are altricial, placentation very different from that of humans, and husbandry requirements not fully assessed. In contrast, the common marmoset, a New World monkey, has well-developed neonates and is kept at many primate centres. Marmoset placenta has some features that closely resemble human placentation, such as the interhaemal barrier, although it is uncertain if invasion of the uterine arteries occurs in this species. In conclusion, pregnancy research would benefit greatly from increased use of alternative models such as the spiny mouse and common marmoset.