Year: 2008
Type: article
Abstract: Animal models are important tools for the study of fatty liver disease, mainly related to physiopathology, pathology and therapeutical trials. Most studies have been developed in rodents (usually in mice and rats), because of biological similarities with humans, and also because of the deep knowledge (genetics, molecular, enzymatic…) of these species. Hepatic steatosis is also easily developed in avian species. We describe the most used animal models of fatty liver disease, and the several means of disease induction. Basically, excessive fat accumulation in the liver can occur as a result of increased fat delivery, increased fat synthesis, reduced fat oxidation, and/or reduced fat export in the form of VLDL. Several animal models of hepatic steatosis are described: genetically engineered animals or spontaneous mutations, which increase lipogenesis; others show reduced fatty acid oxidation, and therefore interfere fat elimination; induction by diets producing obesity: high content in fructose, sacarose, fat, and atherogenic diets; induction by diets which don’t produce obesity (arginine deficient diets), toxic agents which increase hepatic lipogenesis, or factors inducing a decrease of fatty acid oxidation such as choline / methionine deficient diets, strogens and glucocorticoids administration, or toxic agents. Diet-induced avian models are also described.
Source: Anales de Veterinaria de Murcia
Language: English
Subfield: Hepatology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W44267907