ABSTRACT
Experimental animal models have proved instrumental in the preclinical evaluation of the functional efficacy and safety of new bone tissue engineering methodologies.1,2
However, determining an appropriate animal model is critical to successful experimental design and extrapolation to the clinical setting.1, 3-13 It is also a complicated procedure and often a heated topic of debate.6, 13-22
In this chapter we will: (1) discuss a number of practical criteria to facilitate animal model choice for bone tissue engineering studies;1,7,8,12(2) review the advantages and disadvantages of various animal models for basic bone biology and the testing of bone replacement materials in critical-sized defects; and (3) identify abnormal animal models with clinically relevant pathologies that may be used to develop specific bone tissue engineering paradigms and strategies. This discussion is intended as an aid to less experienced researchers and students designing experimental studies, and to clinicians who must critically evaluate the results obtained from published animal studies for validity and potential extrapolation to the human clinical condition.
