Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
the study design and assist, in many cases, the investigator to
reduce the use of animals by reducing variability and increasing
the validity of results obtained. To select the most appropriate
models, the researcher must understand the differences in anat-
omy and physiology among the different animals. Furthermore,
the researcher must understand the disease process in the animal
model and understand how this differs from the primary target
animal (human or animal). Also, selection of the correct animal
model is extremely important when considering route of therapy
if one wishes to translate therapeutic or pharmacokinetic results to
larger animals such as humans.
The purpose of this chapter is to review the ocular anatomy and
physiology differences among common animal models of ocular
disease to help researchers select appropriate animal models in
experimental designs.
2 Materials
The most common animals used in ocular research include mice,
rats, rabbits, guinea pigs, dogs, cats, pigs, and primates (Table
1
).
In this chapter, we will review the literature to describe the differ-
ences in ocular anatomy and physiology in animal models of ocular
disease. In these species, effect of drugs (or procedure or device) on
induced ocular disease, effect of an induced disease or administered
drugs on genetically modified animals, and distribution and
Table 1
Common animal models (and their common genus
names) used in ophthalmic research
Mice/mouse (
Mus musculus
)
Rat (
Rattus rattus
)
Rabbits (
Oryctolagus cuniculus
)
Guinea pigs (
Cavia porcellus
)
Dogs (
Canis lupus familiaris
)
Cats (
Felis catus
)
Pigs (
Sus scrofa domesticus
)
Primates
Cynomolgus macaque monkey (
Macaca fascicularis
)
Rhesus macaque (
Macaca mulatta
)
