Animal models in experimental abdominal aortic aneurysm

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a prevalent and potentially life-threatening disease. Many animal models have been developed to simulate the natural history of the disease or test preclinical endovascular devices and surgical procedures. The aim of this review is to describe different methods of AAA induction in animal models and report on the effectiveness of the methods described in inducing an analog of a human AAA. The PubMed database was searched for publications with titles containing the following terms “animal” or ''animal model(s)'' and keywords “research,” “aneurysm(s),” “aorta,” “pancreatic elastase,” “angiotensin,” “AngII” “calcium chloride” or “CaCl2.” Starting date for this search was set to 2010. We focused on animal studies that reported a model of aneurysm development and progression. A number of different approaches of AAA induction in animal models have been developed, used, and combined since the first report in the 1960s. Although specific methods are successful in AAA induction in animal models, it is necessary that these methods and their respective results are in line with the pathophysiology and the mechanisms involved in human AAA development. A researcher should know the advantages or disadvantages of each animal model and choose the appropriate model.