Targeting the Main Anatomopathological Features in Animal Models of Myocardial Infarction

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of human mortality and disability worldwide, primarily due to myocardial infarction (MI) and the resultant heart failure. To address this, animal models of MI have been developed to better understand the pathophysiological process and to enable the discovery and development of new therapies. The most commonly used small and large mammal models of MI accurately reproduce histopathologically the four characteristic post-MI phases: cardiac cell death, inflammation, myocardial repair and remodelling. However, differences between the time of onset of each characteristic phase and the kinetics of various cellular reactions between human MI and animal models, and between animal models, require careful consideration when defining the variables to be analysed and the timepoints of assessment in experimental studies. Typically, the progression of the different phases post-MI occur more rapidly in rodent models compared with large-animal models and man, suggesting the use of large-animal models is more translational for studying human MI. This review provides an overview of the main anatomopathological features of small and large animal models of MI and discusses the key species-specific histopathological similarities and differences.