title: Animal models for atrial fibrillation: clinical insights and scientific opportunities.
abstract: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia in clinical practice. A variety of animal models have been used to study the pathophysiology of AF, including molecular basis, ion-current determinants, anatomical features, and macroscopic mechanisms. In addition, animal models play a key role in the development of new therapeutic approaches, whether drug-based, molecular therapeutics, or device-related. This article discusses the various types of animal models that have been used for AF research, reviews the principle mechanisms governing atrial arrhythmias in each model, and provides some guidelines for model selection for various purposes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Montréal Heart Institute, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: Kunihiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nishida
authors.forename: Georghia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Michael
authors.forename: Dobromir
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dobrev
authors.forename: Stanley
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nattel
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D001341:Autonomic Nervous System / Q000503:physiopathology; D004285:Dogs; D006041:Goats; D006329:Heart Conduction System / Q000503:physiopathology; D051379:Mice; D023421:Models, Animal; D011817:Rabbits; D051381:Rats; D012756:Sheep; D013552:Swine