Animal models of heart failure (HF) are essential for studying the complex pathophysiology of HF because human myocardial samples are rarely available at early disease stages and clinical trials are costly and time‑consuming.

Applications of Animal Models of Heart Failure

In preclinical cardiovascular research, animal models of HF are applied in several critical ways. They enable mechanistic investigations into myocardial fibrosis, apoptosis, calcium handling, and neurohormonal pathways. They serve as platforms for testing novel pharmacological agents before human trials. Additionally, these models are indispensable for evaluating device‑based interventions, gene therapies, and cell‑based regenerative approaches. Biomarker discovery and validation, as well as the assessment of reverse remodeling after treatment, also rely heavily on well‑characterized animal HF models.

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