New Experimental Models In The Research Of The Pathophysiology Of The Cardiovascular System

Abstract

The constant advances in the field of pathophysiology, nuclear medicine, and the treatment of cardiovascular diseases have set new demands for the experimental models used to simulate the diseases in the human body. The aim of this review is to highlight the newest and most applicable models in relation to their availability, complexity and similarity with the human. The models can be divided into in vivo, ex vivo, and in vitro. The in vivo models are comprised of different animal models, which can be subdivided into surgical, pharmacological, and gene modified. The ex vivo models remove the regulatory interactions of the in vivo model. The in vitro models can be divided into direct cell lines and stem cells. The direct cell lines can be either acquired from a model animal or a human subject or an immortalised cell line. They find application in the new drug screening. The human pluripotent stem cells (hPSC) can be differentiated into cardiomyocytes, endothelial and smooth muscle cells. They have preserved proliferative properties. The three-dimensional vascular networks, composed of endothelial cells (iPS-EC), successfully repute the coronary pathology, and simulate the hemodynamic aspects. In conclusion, the well-known so far animal models should be used in association with newer ones and the more sophisticated in vitro methods, especially in this day and age of biomedicine.