Rabbits and chinchillas as experimental models

Abstract

In biomedical research, the rabbits are the most commonly used laboratory animal for the production of polyclonal antibodies, in toxicity and drugs safety studies. Rabbit offers many advantages over other species. The relatively large size gentle disposition and ease of maintenance in the laboratory condition are characteristics that ensure the continued use of rabbits as valuable and essential animal model for many diseases. Anatomical and functional particularities of rabbits are appropriate and sometimes unique to the study of human diseases. The main studies that rabbits are the model of choice are those related to atherosclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, osteoarthritis, tuberculosis and ophthalmic disease in addition to the familiar models of neoplastic investigations. Chinchillas are the traditional animal model in research related to the ear, especially hearing loss and otitis. Although some studies used mice and guinea pigs in the same area, due to special anatomical features the chinchillas remain the ideal model in this area. The chinchilla inner ear anatomy and ear physiology are similar with the humans. Other areas include the use of chinchillas to study renal anatomy, cardiovascular anatomy, arterial blood supply of the brain and ear, ovarian endocrine activity besides gastrointestinal motility studies, and respiratory infections. This paper provides a review of the main areas in which those species are used as experimental model with emphasis of anatomical characteristics that make them compatible and suitable with specific areas of research.