Hanyang Med Rev.
2007 Feb;27(1):13-19.
Animal Models for Biliary Diseases
- Affiliations
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- 1Department of Internal Medicine, Guro Hospital, Korea University College of Medicine, Korea. kimjs@kumc.or.kr
Abstract
- Using animal models for the study of biliary disease is useful not only in promoting insight in its pathogenesis, but also in developing new therapeutic agents in various biliary diseases. It is generally accepted that gallstone formation can be formed by certain diets according to the characteristics of cholesterol or pigment gallstones. We can use high cholesterol diet supplement in mice or hamsters as a reliable animal model of cholesterol gallstone. Pigment gallstones are formed in hamsters or guinea pigs with a supplement of high carbohydrate diet. The animal model of cholangiocarcinoma is established by thioacetamide supplement in rats or liver fluke infection in hamsters. The Guinea pig is useful as a model for the study of the sphincter of Oddi motility. The overall advantages of using animal models and the specific advantages and disadvantages of various animal species are briefly discussed.
