Rodent Models
Rodent Models - Related Videos
10:29
Principles of Rodent Surgery for the New Surgeon
0 Views •
Cited by 56 •
2011
Before attempting surgery, a new surgeon should have training in basic surgical techniques and concepts. This article will present basic surgical considerations with an emphasis on rodents.
09:40
Hemodynamic Characterization of Rodent Models of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension
0 Views •
Cited by 35 •
2016
Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a disease of pulmonary arterioles that leads to their obliteration and the development of right ventricular failure. Rodent models of PAH are critical in understanding the pathophysiology of PAH. Here we demonstrate hemodynamic characterization, with right heart catheterization and echocardiography, in the mouse and rat.
07:58
Preparing Undercut Model of Posttraumatic Epileptogenesis in Rodents
0 Views •
Cited by 14 •
2011
Partially isolated cortex (“undercut”) is an efficient animal model of posttraumatic epileptogenesis. Here we demonstrate how to make a novel surgical device and use it to make more precise and consistent lesions to generate this model.
05:58
Retinal Detachment Model in Rodents by Subretinal Injection of Sodium Hyaluronate
0 Views •
Cited by 44 •
2013
Creating experimental retinal detachments with a reproducible and sustained height of detachment, and without subretinal hemorrhage, is important for studying the pathophysiology of photoreceptor cell loss in retinal disease and evaluating potential therapeutic interventions. Here, we report such a method in detail.
12:59
Barnes Maze Testing Strategies with Small and Large Rodent Models
0 Views •
Cited by 171 •
2014
The dry-land Barnes maze is widely used to measure spatial navigation ability in response to mildly aversive stimuli. Over consecutive days, performance (e.g. latency to locate escape cage) of control subjects improves, indicative of normal learning and memory. Differences between rats and mice necessitate apparatus and methodology changes that are detailed here.
FAQs
Strain selection determines which genetic or physiological traits are available for study. Researchers choose mice or rats whose characteristics are relevant to the disease mechanism, treatment response, or safety question under investigation. Because controlled genetics can improve reproducibility, selecting an appropriate strain helps connect observed molecular, cellular, behavioral, or clinical outcomes to the research question.
The choice depends on how closely the experimental condition must represent the research question. Natural disease development can support observation of progression, whereas inducing a defined condition provides greater control over when and how the condition begins. Comparing these approaches helps researchers examine disease mechanisms and treatment responses under different experimental circumstances.
Genetic background, physiological traits, environmental conditions, and the way a disease condition is established can all influence results. Researchers therefore control or document these factors when measuring molecular, cellular, behavioral, and clinical outcomes. Attention to these variables supports reproducibility and helps distinguish treatment effects from differences caused by the model itself.
Rodent findings can reveal disease mechanisms and responses to treatment in a controlled biological system, but rodents and humans are not identical. A response observed in mice or rats may not fully predict human biology or clinical benefit. For that reason, researchers interpret results cautiously and validate important conclusions with complementary approaches before human studies.
A typical workflow begins with selecting a strain that has relevant genetic or physiological traits, followed by observing natural disease development or establishing a defined condition. Researchers then measure molecular, cellular, behavioral, or clinical outcomes and compare them with the study question. The resulting evidence can guide investigations of mechanisms, treatment responses, or safety.
These models support measurements across several biological levels rather than relying on a single endpoint. Researchers may examine molecular and cellular changes, behavioral effects, or clinical outcomes, depending on the disease and treatment question. Using multiple outcome types can help connect an underlying mechanism with observable disease features and treatment-related responses.
Medical researchers use them to investigate infection, cancer, neurological disorders, cardiovascular disease, and drug safety. Their controlled genetics, environment, and life cycle make it possible to study disease processes and treatment responses under reproducible conditions. This work can provide evidence before human studies, while still requiring careful interpretation of how well findings translate across species.
Complementary approaches help address the biological differences between rodents and humans. A rodent experiment can provide controlled evidence about mechanisms, disease progression, or treatment response, but it cannot by itself establish that the same result will occur in people. Combining model-based findings with other evidence supports more careful validation and improves interpretation before human studies.