There are more than 25 million people afflicted with asthma in the US, about 60 percent of which suffer from allergic asthma, according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. However, this number only continues to increase because this condition is becoming more prevalent, especially among children.
As such, it has become necessary for researchers to develop new ways of treating allergic asthma by using animal models like mice (among others) as a tool for testing the safety and effectiveness of their proposed treatments. This article will share some reasons why mouse models are ideal for allergic asthma research.
Commonly Animal Models for Asthma Research
Apart from mice, many kinds of animals are used as models for asthma research. These include guinea pigs, cats, equines, and dogs. However, several disadvantages exist when using these animals as a model for allergic asthma research.
- Guinea Pigs
Guinea pigs lack specific probes and reagents for studying allergic outcomes, so it is difficult to determine how the allergy develops in the animal. Additionally, their offspring numbers are low – 1 to 8 offspring per litter, and they have a long gestation time (59–72 days), so they are not suitable to use as a model for large-scale studies.
- Cats
Cats also have several disadvantages that make them less ideal than mouse models. For example, cats can be expensive and hard to obtain reagents for, which makes them less accessible for researchers who may not have access to them on campus or at home due to costs and time constraints.
- Dogs
Dogs have large airways compared to other animals, which makes them hard to study. Also, they are expensive and not always readily available to obtain reagents as research subjects.
- Equines
Equines are another animal model often used as an alternative to human subjects in asthma studies. But this model comes with a high price tag, moreover, they can be hard to come by if people want to use them for study!
Why Are Mouse Models Ideal for Asthma Research?
Mouse models are ideal for asthma research due to the following reasons:
- Easy to Breed, Maintain and Handle
Unlike other animals, such as cats and dogs, mouse models do not require special housing or care. Instead, they can be easily maintained in a laboratory environment with access to food and water. Mice also have a shorter gestation time (19–21 days) and a higher number of offsprings (5–14 pups) compared to other rodents such as guinea pigs, which means that they can be used as long-term models for studying the effects of various substances on the airways.
- Many Specific Reagents and Different Mice Are Available for Asthma Research
A wide array of specific reagents can be used on mice for cellular and mediator responses. Also, genetically modified mice or gene-knockout mice are available for modeling airway disease, which makes it easier to study asthma’s underlying mechanisms at the molecular level.
Mouse Models for Allergic Asthma Research
Mice have been used as research animals since the 17th century, and they continue to be used today. There are two types of mouse models available for asthma research.
Acute Experimental Mouse Model
This type of model can be used to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of immune and inflammatory responses in asthma, helping identify and study new targets for controlling allergic inflammation. More importantly, it shows many key features in clinical asthma, such as airway inflammation, goblet cell hyperplasia, and epithelial hypertrophy, which can help people know more about allergic asthma and discover new treatment methods.
Chronic Experimental Mouse Model
This model can be used to study inhibited airway inflammation and remodeling, providing a more appropriate system for the preclinical evaluation of novel therapeutic agents.
Cyagen: a Trustworthy Mouse Model Supplier for Allergic Asthma Research
Mouse models are the gold standard in allergic asthma research. They have been extensively studied and used by researchers worldwide, proving to be a great tool for creating discoveries in this field. However, it is not easy to find a reliable supplier of mouse models for allergy research.
Cyagen is a leading mouse model supplier that has been in business for over 15 years with the highest standards in ethical conduct and quality. We also have a team dedicated to ensuring that all our models are high-quality and free from any harmful substances or contaminants. This means that people can trust them completely when it comes to using genetically modified mice in research.
We offer customizable mice models, including DNA vector construction, embryonic stem cell manipulation, microinjection, and breeding, allowing us to offer immunodeficient mice for specific needs and requests.
