[Animal models of cardiovascular disease]. / Modelos animales de enfermedad cardiovascular.

The use of animal models to study cardiovascular disease has made a substantial contribution to increasing our understanding of disease pathogenesis, has led to the development of diagnostic techniques, and has made it possible to verify the effectiveness of different preventative and therapeutic approaches, whether pharmacological or interventional. The main limitations stem from differences between human and experimentally induced pathology, in terms of both genetic regulatory mechanisms and factors that influence cardiovascular function. The experimental models and preparations used in cardiovascular research include those based on isolated cells or tissues or structures immersed in organ baths. The Langendorff system enables isolated perfused hearts to be studied directly under conditions of either no load or controlled loading. In small mammals, a number of models have been developed of cardiovascular conditions that result from spontaneous genetic mutations or, alternatively, that may be induced by specific genomic modification. One of the techniques employed is gene transfer, which can involve the controlled induction of mutations that result in the expression of abnormalities associated with the development of a broad range of different types of cardiovascular disease. Larger animals are used in experimental models in which it is important that physiological regulatory and homeostatic mechanisms are present.

Modelos animales de enfermedad cardiovascular / Animal models of cardiovascular disease

La utilización de modelos animales para el estudio de enfermedades cardiovasculares ha contribuido sustancialmente al progreso en el conocimiento de su patogenia y ha permitido el desarrollo de técnicas diagnósticas y la validación de procedimientos preventivos y terapéuticos, tanto farmacológicos como intervencionistas. Las diferencias existentes entre la enfermedad humana y la inducida experimentalmente, tanto en los mecanismos de regulación genética como en los factores que determinan la función cardiaca y vascular, son sus principales limitaciones. Entre los modelos y las preparaciones empleados en la investigación cardiovascular, se encuentran los basados en la utilización de células aisladas y tejidos y estructuras en baños de órganos. El sistema de Langendorff permite el estudio directo del corazón aislado y perfundido aplicando diversas técnicas tanto sin someter al corazón a un trabajo como con una carga controlada. En mamíferos pequeños existen varios tipos de modelos de alteraciones cardiovasculares que ocurren por mutaciones genéticas espontáneas o son inducidos mediante modificaciones específicas del genoma. Entre los procedimientos utilizados se encuentran los basados en la transferencia genética con provocación controlada de mutaciones que dan lugar a la expresión de alteraciones asociadas al desarrollo de gran número de enfermedades cardiovasculares. Animales de mayor tamaño se emplean en modelos en los que se considera relevante que estén presentes los mecanismos de regulación y homeostasis del organismo (AU)

The use of animal models to study cardiovascular disease has made a substantial contribution to increasing our understanding of disease pathogenesis, has led to the development of diagnostic techniques, and has made it possible to verify the effectiveness of different preventative and therapeutic approaches, whether pharmacological or interventional. The main limitations stem from differences between human and experimentally induced pathology, in terms of both genetic regulatory mechanisms and factors that influence cardiovascular function. The experimental models and preparations used in cardiovascular research include those based on isolated cells or tissues or structures immersed in organ baths. The Langendorff system enables isolated perfused hearts to be studied directly under conditions of either no load or controlled loading. In small mammals, a number of models have been developed of cardiovascular conditions that result from spontaneous genetic mutations or, alternatively, that may be induced by specific genomic modification. One of the techniques employed is gene transfer, which can involve the controlled induction of mutations that result in the expression of abnormalities associated with the development of a broad range of different types of cardiovascular disease. Larger animals are used in experimental models in which it is important that physiological regulatory and homeostatic mechanisms are present (AU)