Experimental models for the study of cardiovascular function and disease

In the study of cardiovascular biology, both under conditions of health and disease, the investigator enjoys the availability of a vast range of exper imental models ranging from man to a single molecule and beyond. There is a lso a vast spectrum of measurable indices of function and injury. This is p articularly so in the case of myocardial ischemia, a disease which still co ntributes to the majority of deaths in the Western Hemisphere. Each experim ental model, each species and each end-point has its own inherent advantage s and disadvantages and appreciating these will help the investigator selec t the most appropriate study system for the particular question under inves tigation. This article endeavours to identify some of these strengths and w eaknesses and reveals the frequently encountered paradox that the greater t he amount and reproducibility of data the further removed is the model from clinical reality. Fortunately, however, an appreciation of this 'weakness' can often be exploited for the advancement of knowledge. (C) 2000 Academic Press.