Abstract:

BACKGROUND: The pathogenesis of osteoporosis is very complicated. But test can not be done directly in humans. Animal models of human-like osteoporosis are needed for detailed study.
OBJECTIVE: Comprehensively analyze the advantages and disadvantages of various modeling methods and animals of osteoporosis, so as to provide a reference of choicing the models for future research of osteoporosis.
METHODS: Searched CNKI series database and ESBCO Medline database for the relevant review and papers of osteoporosis models published from January 1990 to July 2010 with the key words of “osteoporosis, animal models” in Chinese and English. 469 documents were retrieved. Each article was checked. Inclusive criterion: the documents were closely with the subject; the article was original and the viewpoint was reliable; the viewpoint was clear and analysis was comprehensive. Old, duplicate documents and experiments without randomized controlled trials were excluded.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Totally 38 articles were adopted in this article. The induced animal models and transgenic animal models are mainly used in the research of osteoporosis. Various animal models of osteoporosis may only focus on the certain causes, certain stage, some of the main symptoms and some pathophysiological changes of disease. Accordingly, appropriate modeling methods and experimental animals should be selected based on research objective.