Animal Models of Renal Pathophysiology and Disease

Area of Science:

• Nephrology
• Biomedical Imaging
• Preclinical Research

Background:

• Renal diseases cause significant global mortality and morbidity.
• Animal models are vital for studying kidney disease mechanisms and therapies.
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is increasingly used to evaluate renal function, perfusion, oxygenation, fibrosis, and inflammation in preclinical settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a comprehensive overview of animal models for acute and chronic kidney diseases.
• To highlight magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-specific considerations, advantages, and limitations in preclinical renal research.
• To assist researchers in planning experiments involving renal MRI in animal models.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on animal models of kidney diseases.
• Analysis of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques and applications in preclinical renal studies.
• Discussion of challenges and best practices for renal MRI in animal research.

Main Results:

• Animal models offer valuable insights into kidney disease pathomechanisms.
• MRI provides a non-invasive method to assess various aspects of renal health and disease in vivo.
• Standardization of renal MRI biomarkers is crucial for reproducibility.

Conclusions:

• The judicious use of animal models and advanced imaging techniques like MRI is essential for advancing kidney disease research.
• This work supports the COST Action PARENCHIMA's goal of improving reproducibility and standardization of renal MRI biomarkers.
• Effective experimental design incorporating MRI considerations can accelerate the development of novel therapeutic strategies for renal diseases.