Göttingen Minipigs as Large Animal Model in Toxicology

Abstract The Gottingen Minipig is globally the most widely used minipig for toxicity testing since it is rather small and well-defined genetically as well as microbiologically. Also, both pigs and minipigs resemble humans in many aspects of anatomy and physiology, and therefore findings made in the Gottingen Minipig will often be predictive of findings in humans. The biomarkers typically used in toxicity testing and other in vivo studies are reviewed in this chapter, with an emphasis on aspects that are distinct for the minipig. Rather than giving an exhaustive review, the focus is on providing key references and describing aspects that are complex and/or not so easy to find in the literature. The perspectives supported by factors such as significant improvements in gene-editing techniques, clinical diagnostic modalities, and analytical methods are also covered.