Animal models in peritoneal dialysis: more questions than answers?

The development of an adequate animal model for peritoneal research remains an object of concern. In vivo peritoneal dialysis (PD) research is hampered by the large variety of available models that make interpretation of results and comparison of studies very difficult. Species and strain of experimental animals, method of peritoneal access, study duration, measures of solutetransport and ultrafiltration, and sampling for histology differ substantially among the various research groups. A collective effort to discuss the shortcomings and merits of the different experimental models may lead to a consensus on a standardized animal model of PD.