Small Animal Models of Heart Failure Development of Novel Therapies, Past and Present

The use of small-animal models to study complex cardiovascular pathophysiology has proven to be invaluable during the past 4 decades. As a direct result of basic and translational studies in murine models, some of which have been highlighted above, our understanding of pathophysiology of heart failure and its treatment has advanced considerably. Rat models have been used primarily to assess the efficacy of specific pharmacological or molecular therapies. The ability to manipulate the mouse genome has facilitated a particularly elegant approach to identify novel therapeutic targets, offering a "proof of principle" approach to explore the mechanisms underlying heart failure and its progression. Moving forward, these small animal models of heart failure will continue to be critical tools in the identification of new therapeutic targets and evaluation of specific therapies for heart failure. © 2009 American Heart Association, Inc.