Overview of murine atherosclerosis series.
This volume recognizes the critical and central role of the mouse in experimental atherosclerosis pathology. Atherosclerosis is a complex and chronic inflammation in which multiple modulating factors may play a role. Its chronicity and complexity make it very difficult to study the detailed mechanisms of atherogenesis in unregulated human populations. The search for atherogenic mechanisms requires a model in which these mechanisms simulate those inferred in humans, and in which controlled experiments may be conducted in a reasonable timeframe and at manageable expense. The mouse recommends itself as a small animal model with a short life span in which atherosclerosis similar in character to human atherosclerosis may be induced under controlled conditions. With the development of genetic models of atherosclerosis the mouse has become a very accessible model, especially with the very large genetic data base about this species in relation to human biology that has become available.
Getz
Godfrey S
GS
Department of Pathology, The University of Chicago, 5841 S. Maryland Avenue, Chicago, IL 60637, USA. getz@bsd.uchicago.edu
D000818:Animals; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D030541:Databases, Genetic; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D013045:Species Specificity