Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2022 Mar;179(5):882-899.
doi: 10.1111/bph.15450. Epub 2021 May 10.

Preclinical rodent models of cardiac fibrosis

Yan Wang  1 , Miao Wang  2 , Chrishan S Samuel  1 , Robert E Widdop  1
Affiliations
Free article
Review

Preclinical rodent models of cardiac fibrosis

Yan Wang et al. Br J Pharmacol. 2022 Mar.
Free article

Abstract

Cardiac fibrosis (scarring), characterised by an increased deposition of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins, is a hallmark of most types of cardiovascular disease and plays an essential role in heart failure progression. Inhibition of cardiac fibrosis could improve outcomes in patients with cardiovascular diseases and particularly heart failure. However, pharmacological treatment of the ECM build-up is still lacking. In this context, preclinical models of heart disease are important tools for understanding the complex pathogenesis involved in the development of cardiac fibrosis which in turn could identify new therapeutic targets and the facilitation of antifibrotic drug discovery. Many preclinical models have been used to study cardiac fibrosis and each model provides mechanistic insights into the many factors that contribute to cardiac fibrosis. This review discusses the most frequently used rodent models of cardiac fibrosis and also provides context for the use of particular models of heart failure. LINKED ARTICLES: This article is part of a themed issue on Preclinical Models for Cardiovascular disease research (BJP 75th Anniversary). To view the other articles in this section visit http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bph.v179.5/issuetoc.

Keywords: Cardiac fibrosis; heart failure; preclinical models.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

REFERENCES

    1. Ahmed, S. H., Clark, L. L., Pennington, W. R., Webb, C. S., Bonnema, D. D., Leonardi, A. H., McClure, C. D., Spinale, F. G., & Zile, M. R. (2006). Matrix metalloproteinases/tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases: Relationship between changes in proteolytic determinants of matrix composition and structural, functional, and clinical manifestations of hypertensive heart disease. Circulation, 113, 2089-2096.
    1. Alexander, S. P. H., Christopoulos, A., Davenport, A. P., Kelly, E., Mathie, A., Peters, J. A., Veale, E. L., Armstrong, J. F., Faccenda, E., Harding, S. D., Pawson, A. J., Sharman, J. L., Southan, C., Davies, J. A., & CGTP Collaborators. (2019). The concise guide to PHARMACOLOGY 2019/20: G protein-coupled receptors. British Journal of Pharmacology, 176, S21-S141. https://doi.org/10.1111/bph.14748
    1. Alexander, S. P. H., Cidlowski, J. A., Kelly, E., Mathie, A., Peters, J. A., Veale, E. L., Armstrong, J. F., Faccenda, E., Harding, S. D., Pawson, A. J., Sharman, J. L., Southan, C., & Davies, J. A. (2019). The concise guide to PHARMACOLOGY 2019/20: Nuclear hormone receptors. British Journal of Pharmacology, 176, S229-S246. https://doi.org/10.1111/bph.14750
    1. Alexander, S. P. H., Fabbro, D., Kelly, E., Mathie, A., Peters, J. A., Veale, E. L., Armstrong, J. F., Faccenda, E., Harding, S. D., Pawson, A. J., Sharman, J. L., Southan, C., & Davies, J. A. (2019). The concise guide to PHARMACOLOGY 2019/20: Enzymes. British Journal of Pharmacology, 176, S297-S396. https://doi.org/10.1111/bph.14752
    1. Ali, Q., Patel, S., & Hussain, T. (2015). Angiotensin AT2 receptor agonist prevents salt-sensitive hypertension in obese Zucker rats. American Journal of Physiology. Renal Physiology, 308, F1379-F1385.

Publication types