Animal Models of Hypertension

Hypertension significantly contributes to overall morbidity and mortality worldwide, and animal models of hypertension provide important tools to verify the physiological and molecular mechanisms underlying the development of the disease. Vascular endothelial dysfunction promotes atherosclerosis, the underlying cause of cardiovascular pathologies such as myocardial infarction, stroke, unstable angina, and sudden cardiac death. Oxidative stress plays a central role in atherogenesis, implicated in endothelial dysfunction, coronary plaque formation, and destabilization. Vascular changes observed during hypertension depend on oxidative stress and endothelial dysfunction and might lead to severe complications, eg. stroke and end-stage renal disease.

Animal models have long been widely used in the field of biosciences, including a range of subject areas within physiology. Several important milestones have been achieved in the field thanks to their application, allowing scientists to develop concepts, technologies, and methodologies to better understand more complex living systems, including humans.

The aim of this Research Topic is therefore to investigate the advantages, challenges and limitations of using animal models of hypertension as well as to explore the mechanisms responsible for hypertension-dependent vascular changes.