Chapter 6 – Animal Models for Cardiovascular Research

With advances in molecular and genomic research offering novel insights into cardiovascular diseases, recently many transgenic animal models have been developed and characterized. Currently, more than 90% of all laboratory animals are mice and rats. Although there are many scientific advantages of using small animal models, a disconnect in translatability from results obtained in rodent models to results found from clinical trails for many exciting therapeutic interventions has been observed. Thus studies conducted in a suitable larger animal model, preferably conscious with appropriate direct measurements of cardiovascular function is needed to enable better translational model between preclinical and clinical studies. The current chapter is focused on, but not limited to, surgically manipulated chronic, conscious large animal models. Equal importantly, several factors that influence the characteristics of these models, as well as considerations for accurate measurements of cardiovascular parameters and data interpretation are also discussed.