Acute inflammation Models

These models are short-duration models for the study of the molecular and cellular mediators of inflammation and very convenient for the screening of new anti-inflammatory molecules.

FEATURED DISEASE MODELS:

Paw oedema

A solution of carrageenan in saline injected into the hind footpad induces an acute swelling of the paw that becomes maximal approximately 3 hours after the injection.

Air-pouch

The murine air pouch model provides a contained compartment, that has been likened to the synovial cavity, in which to study the inflammatory response and leukocyte trafficking.

Peritonitis

Peritonitis is induced with 1mg of zymosan administered intra-peritoneally, and assessment of affects are conducted after 4 hours.

Systemic inflammation

Systemic inflammation remains a significant clinical challenge as it frequently results in multi-organ dysfunction, leading to high mortality rates. Animal models are required for the development of new therapeutic options and identification of potential drug candidates

FEATURED DISEASE MODELS:

Endotoxaemia

The model consists of injection of purified lipopolysaccharide (LPS) intra-peritoneally.

Caecal-Ligation and Puncture

The CLP model of sepsis involves performance of a laparotomy under general anesthesia followed by ligation of a portion of the cecum in conjunction with creation of one or more cecal colotomies via needle puncture.

Splanchnic Ischaemia-reperfusion injury

The occlusion and reperfusion of the splanchnic arteries provokes local and systemic alterations principally derived from the release of cytotoxic substances and the interaction between neutrophils and endothelial cells.

Joint disease models

Rheumatoid arthritis occurs when the body's immune system targets affected joints, which leads to pain, swelling and joint destruction in the long term. Animal models are used to identify mechanisms of disease and for the development of novel therapies.

FEATURED DISEASE MODEL:

K/BxN serum induced arthritis

K/BxN serum model of inflammatory arthritis is an aggressive model that mimics the active phases of rheumatoid arthritis, with a fast onset, ideal for drug testing.

Collagen-induced arthritis

Autoimmune arthritis is induced in this model by immunisation with an emulsion of complete Freund's adjuvant and type II collagen (CII).

Adjuvant-induced arthritis

The disease induced in this model is a T cell-mediated autoimmune arthritis that is frequently used to study immunological aspects of rheumatoid arthritis.

Organ injury and protection

Experimental animal models of specific organ dysfunction, such as heart failure or inflammatory bowel disease, are commonly used during the pre-clinical phase of drug development for the identification of novel therapeutic targets and for the development of new drugs.

FEATURED DISEASE MODEL:

Acute myocardial infarction

The model consists on the ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD), preventing blood flow and forming an area of ischemia.

DSS colitis model

Intestinal inflammation is induced by administering 5% dextran sulphate sodium in drinking water, which disrupts the epithelial monolayer resulting in exposure of the underlying immune system to the intestinal microbiota.