Rat Models to Study Stem Cells

The rat (Rattus norvegicus) is a widely used animal model. An animal model refers to a nonhuman animal used in the study of human diseases in order to gain a better understanding of the disease process without harming human beings. Animal disease-modeling allows for the study of biological mechanisms underlying disease and offer the opportunity to perform preclinical trials of new therapies. The use of animal models has played an important role in the development of drugs, treatments, and cures of countless human diseases. Although mice have been the most commonly used human disease model for many decades, the rat offers several advantages over the mouse and other organisms. Rats are more similar to humans in terms of physiological composition, cellular regulatory mechanisms, and intelligence level. Rat physiology is also easier to monitor and their smaller body size makes for easier handling and care. Furthermore, the rat is a more suitable model for complicated diseases, including cardiovascular diseases such as stroke and hypertension, as well as diseases of the nervous system such as Parkinson’s and Huntington’s disease. Presently, a number of rodent studies are being carried out on the transplantation of therapeutic stem cells. If preliminary studies with rodent stem cells are successful, then scientists will attempt to transplant stem cells into primates before progressing to human studies. Rats are increasingly being used for medical research, and the relatively recent successful isolation of rat embryonic stem cells has seen the rapid expansion of their utility in the field of stem cell research.