A Review on Experimental Animal Models Used for Evaluation of Anti-Hypertensive Drugs in Rats and Mice

Abstract

Hypertension is one of the leading cardiovascular disorders responsible for significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. The continuous rise in hypertensive patients has increased the demand for effective and safer anti-hypertensive therapies. Experimental animal models play a crucial role in understanding the pathophysiology of hypertension and in the preclinical evaluation of anti-hypertensive drugs. Among different laboratory animals, rats and mice are widely preferred because of their genetic similarity to humans, ease of handling, reproducibility, and cost-effectiveness. Various experimental models have been developed to mimic human hypertension, including genetic, pharmacological, dietary, and surgically induced models. Commonly used models include Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats (SHR), DOCA-salt induced hypertension, L-NAME induced hypertension, renovascular hypertension models, and Angiotensin-II induced hypertension. Each model exhibits distinct pathological and physiological characteristics that help researchers evaluate the efficacy, safety, and mechanism of action of anti-hypertensive agents.
This review summarizes the major experimental animal models used in hypertension research and highlights their applications in anti-hypertensive drug screening. The article also discusses methods for blood pressure measurement, biochemical and histopathological assessment, advantages and limitations of rodent models, and recent advancements in hypertension research. Furthermore, emerging therapeutic strategies such as nanotechnology-based drug delivery systems, herbal medicines, and gene-targeted therapies are briefly addressed. Understanding the appropriate selection and utilization of animal models is essential for improving translational research and accelerating the development of novel anti-hypertensive drugs with better therapeutic outcomes.