Animal Models for Investigating Pathophysiological Mechanisms of Preeclampsia

The goal of this chapter is to review some of the more widely studied and/or recently developed animal models used to investigate mechanisms that link placental pathology with maternal endothelial activation/dysfunction and vascular abnormalities of preeclampsia. We attempted to highlight the advantages and limitations of these models. While studies in animal models have limitations, utilization of these models allows investigators to directly test whether certain factors found in preeclamptic women can indeed lead to hypertension and other manifestations of preeclampsia. Thus, animal models are useful in advancing our knowledge of preeclampsia and should undoubtedly be of greater use in future studies on mechanisms and the development of specific treatments.