Main description:

Interest in the humane and scientifically justifiable use of research animals has intensified since the publication of the 2nd edition of Animal Models in Cardiovascular Research. This completely revised and updated edition will provide information essential to any researcher interested in using animal models for cardiovascular research, or any research which requires normal cardiovascular function. The format and presentation will be changed to make the text more easy to read and use: (1) This edition is in outline format, for ease and utility. (2) The opening chapter includes more information on the cardiovascular effects of post-operative analgesia and will address the recognition of pain behavior in species commonly used in research settings, particularly rats and mice. (3) New edition includes reference material more useful to researchers using transgenic and naturally occurring animal models to dissect these mechanisms.

Contents:

1. General principles of animal selection and normal physiological values 2. Anesthesia, chemical restraint (sedation), and analgesia 3. Normal cardiovascular parameters 4. Measuring cardiac function 5. Measuring vascular function and ventricular/arterial coupling dynamics 6. Isolated heart preparations, problems and pitfalls 7. Cardiovascular effects anesthetics, sedatives and post-operative analgesic agents 8. Iatrogenic and naturally occurring animal models of valvular, infectious and arrhythmic cardiovascular disease 9. Iatrogenic models of ischemic heart disease 10. Iatrogenic, transgenic and naturally occurring models of cardiomyopathy and heart failure 11. Iatrogenic and transgenic models of hypertension 12. Iatrogenic and transgenic models of atherosclerotic disease 13. Animal models for the study of neurohumeral and central neural control of the cardiovascular system 14. Cardiovascular studies involving other specific genetic knockouts