The use of animal model in research helps to better understand the mechanism of a particular disease as they offer an approximantion of human disease, contributing to the development of treatments and strategy for preventions.
The Superpig program uses pig as research model. The pig, for its physiological characteristics, is the closest to humans after primates (monkeys). Having an intermediate model between human and mouse is becoming mandatory also for the validation of new therapies and there is consensus in the international scientific community that the pig represents the most suitable mammalian model for this purpose, due to the similarity in size, physiology, organ development and progression of certain kind of disease.
In particular, there are many similarities in cardiovascular anatomy and physiology, including: heart with a dimentional ratio similar to humans, the spontaneous development of atherosclerosis, the anatomy of the coronary arteries, the structure of lipoproteins, the tendency towards obesity and the susceptibility to a variety of stress factors. Pigs are omnivores non-ruminant with a digestive physiology similar to humans; piglets and human infants share similar nutritional needs, as well as predisposition to a number of gastrointestinal pathogens.
In addition, there are numerous publications in the field of animal husbandry which could have applications in biomedical research - particularly in the areas of nutrition, reproduction and behavior.
The 3Rs in all scientific activity of the project are considered:
Importance of the pig for xenotransplantation research
Swine model use in biomedical research
Importance for research on diabetes, obesity, metabolic syndrome
Importance for Cardiovascular Research
Importance in the pharmacological and toxicological research
Importance of the pig model in neurosciences
Using the pig model for research on bone disorder
Importance of the pig model for research on skin care and wound healing
Importance of the pig model for research on dental care
OTHER PUBLICATIONS
(SOURCE: NATIONAL LIBRARY OF UNITED STATES OF AMERICA)