ABSTRACT
Swine are increasingly used as models in biomedical research. Developments in the field of immunology and xenotransplantation prospects have renewed interest in this species, the anatomy and physiology of which have notable similarities to those of man. Since their development at the beginning of the 1950s, miniature swine have been used in toxicity testing as a nonrodent species. The small size of miniature swine is obviously advantageous for housing and handling, but also for the quantity of test compound, which usually is available in only small amounts. Moreover, pressure from society to reduce the number of monkeys and dogs in biomedical research has caused an increase in the use of (miniature) swine.
