Experimental animal models for urolithiasis (kidney stone): A comprehensive review
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Experimental animal models play a crucial role in scientific research in different fields such as medicine, biology and pharmacology. Animal models help to understanding human physiology and pathology and provide researchers with scientific way to study biological processes and diseases in living organisms that closely resemble humans. By observing how diseases progress in animals, researchers can gain insights into the underlying mechanisms, which can then be applied to humans. Before new drugs or therapies can be tested on humans, they must undergo rigorous testing in animal models to assess safety and efficacy. Animal studies help researchers identify potential side effects and determine appropriate dosages before moving to human clinical trials. Urolithiasis, commonly known as kidney stones, is a condition characterized by the formation of solid crystals in the urinary tract. Animal models are essential for understanding the underlying mechanisms of urolithiasis, testing potential treatments, and developing preventive strategies. Experimental animals like rats are frequently used in urolithiasis research due to their physiological similarities to humans and the ease of experimentation. Various rat strains, such as Sprague-Dawley and Wistar rats, have been used to induce urolithiasis by methods like dietary manipulation (e.g., high calcium or oxalate diets), administration of lithogenic agents (e.g., ethylene glycol) etc. Mice are also another commonly used animal model for urolithiasis research. Similar to rats, mice can be induced to develop kidney stones through dietary manipulation, chemical induction, or genetic modifications. These animal models provide valuable insights into the pathophysiology of urolithiasis, including stone formation, growth, retention, and passage. They also serve as platforms for testing new treatment modalities, evaluating the efficacy of preventive measures, and investigating the genetic and environmental factors contributing to stone formation. In this review, we have tried to explore the various animal models used to screen new compounds against urolithiasis model that will pave the way for further research in this field. • Etilogy and Pathophysiology of formation of kidney stones in experimental animals • Calcium oxalate (CaOx) induced urolithiasis in experimental rats • Calcium phosphate (CaP) induced urolithiasis in experimental rats • Uric acid causes precipitation of kidney stones in experimental animals • Struvite induced kidney stones in experimental animals • Cystine stones kidney stones in experimental animals • Glycolic acid induced urolithiasis • Ethylene glycol induced urolithiasis • Hydroxy-L-proline (HLP) induced urolithiasis • Ethylene glycol and ammonium chloride induced urolithiasis in rats • Calculi-Producing diet induced urolithiasis • Glyoxylate induced acute lithiasis • Zinc disc induced urolithiasis in rats
Source: Animals and zoonoses.
Institution: Columbia Institute of Pharmacy
Language: English
Subfield: Urology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W4408239472