title: Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis: A Search for Factual Animal Models.
abstract: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is characterized by hepatic steatosis, which occurs in the absence of alcohol abuse. NAFLD can evolve into progressive liver injury and fibrosis in the form of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Several animal models have been developed to attempt to represent the morphological, biochemical, and clinical features of human NASH. The actual review presents a critical analysis of the most commonly used experimental models of NAFLD/NASH development. These models can be classified into genetic, nutritional, and a combination of genetic and nutritional factors. The main genetic models are ob/ob and db/db mutant mice and Zucker rats. The principal nutritional models employ methionine- and choline-deficient, high-fat, high-cholesterol and high-cholate, cafeteria, and high-fructose diets. Currently, associations between high-fructose and various compositions of high-fat diets have been widely studied. Previous studies have encountered significant difficulties in developing animal models capable of reproducing human NASH. Some models produce consistent morphological findings, but the induction method differs significantly compared with the pathophysiology of human NASH. Other models precisely represent the clinical and etiological contexts of this disease but fail to provide accurate histopathological representations mainly in the progression from steatosis to liver fibrosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, School of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Avenida Bandeirantes 3900, Monte Alegre, 14049-900 Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Sheila Cristina L
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Sanches
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, School of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Avenida Bandeirantes 3900, Monte Alegre, 14049-900 Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Leandra Naira Z
authors.initials: LN
authors.lastname: Ramalho
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, School of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Avenida Bandeirantes 3900, Monte Alegre, 14049-900 Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marlei Josiele
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Augusto
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, School of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Avenida Bandeirantes 3900, Monte Alegre, 14049-900 Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Deisy Mara
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: da Silva
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, School of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Avenida Bandeirantes 3900, Monte Alegre, 14049-900 Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Fernando Silva
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Ramalho
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D018450:Disease Progression; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology*; D051379:Mice; D065626:Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology*; D051381:Rats