Animal models of peripheral neuropathies

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Pathology
• Biomedical Research

Background:

• Peripheral neuropathies are common neurological disorders with significant public health impact.
• Established animal models exist for diabetic, chemotherapy-induced, and HIV-associated neuropathies.
• Current models often employ pathological, electrophysiological, and behavioral assessments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight a shift towards clinically relevant outcome measures in animal models of peripheral neuropathy.
• To introduce epidermal innervation assessment via skin biopsy as a novel outcome measure.
• To emphasize the need for validation of this method against established clinical assessments.

Main Methods:

• Review of outcome measures used in established animal models of peripheral neuropathy.
• Identification of epidermal innervation via skin biopsy as a translatable outcome measure.
• Discussion of the need for blinded, quantitative assessments.

Main Results:

• Animal models commonly utilize a range of outcome measures to study neuropathy pathogenesis.
• Epidermal innervation assessment using skin biopsy is emerging as a viable, quantitative outcome measure.
• This method aligns with clinical practices and allows for blinded evaluation.

Conclusions:

• Epidermal innervation assessment in skin biopsies represents a promising, clinically relevant outcome measure for peripheral neuropathy research.
• Further clinical trials are necessary to validate its translational utility.
• This method holds potential for future therapeutic drug development and clinical trials.