ABSTRACT
Animal studies are fundamental for the identification of potential targets and pre-clinical drug testing for sleep-disordered breathing (SDB). SDB includes a spectrum of conditions including obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), alveolar hypoventilation, and central sleep apnea. OSA is the most prevalent type of SDB, and unfavorable anatomy is a key factor for the development of the sleep-related upper airway collapse characteristic of OSA. However, non-anatomical traits play a fundamental role in SDB pathophysiology and must be considered for the development of pharmacotherapy.
In the past decades, researchers developed two major types of animal models of SDB: (1) models that mimic human anatomical and neuromuscular predisposition to SDB and (2) models that focus on specific features such as intermittent hypoxia. In this chapter, we will review animal studies aiming to develop novel therapies of SDB focusing on specific features of the SDB pathogenesis, including impaired control of breathing, neuromuscular control of the upper airway, breathing stability, and the peripheral chemoreflex.
