Animal models of heart failure

Animal models of heart failure present homogenous groups of animals all wit h heart failure produced by a well defined lesion at a particular stage of evolution, in contrast to humans, who present with hears failure of uncerta in duration front a wide variety of causes and with marked variation in age and pre-morbid health and fitness. Animal models of heart failure provide diseased groups of animals in which experimental procedures, not possible i n humans, can be evaluated and in which new treatments can be tested before their safety is established in humans. An ideal model should have a common human counterpart and should closely mimic heart failure in humans. Thus t he haemodynamic changes should include increased cardiac filling pressures and law cardiac output There should be evidence of activation of the sympat hetic nervous system and increased secretion of hormones such as renin, ang iotensin, aldosterone, vasopressin, atrial natriuretic factor and endotheli n. The clinical features of the human syndrome such as cardiomegaly, lung a nd peripheral oedema and decreased exercise tolerance should be present. La stly, the model should be inexpensive and technically simple to produce and study. This paper reviews some commonly used models of heart failure in relation t o the criteria listed above. There is no perfect animal model of heart fail ure and in practice one should match the model to the purpose of the the st udy.