Mouse models of focal arterial and venous thrombosis

Mouse models of arterial and venous thrombosis have gained increasing interest over the last 15 years, due to direct availability of a growing number of genetically modified mice, improved technical feasibility, standardization of new models of local thrombosis, and low maintenance costs. In order to provide an overview of suitable models for the study of arterial and venous thrombosis in mice, we have systematically searched MEDLINE electronic databases for publications reporting on murine thrombo-embolic models from 1966-1999. We found that the variety of murine thromboembolic models through 1995 was rather limited, as most methods used intravenous injections of strong coagulation triggers such as thrombin, thromboplastin and collagen, causing lethal thromboembolism. Between 1996 and the end of 1999, a number of more sophisticated murine models of local acute or chronic thrombosis have been established. They seem to be more suitable for mimicking the natural scenario of thrombosis and, therefore, are preferable models for pathophysiological or drug evaluation studies. In this paper various models are described and their advantages and limitations discussed.