Different types of pigs in cardiovascular medical research (A review)

Abstract

The swine is a well-known and frequently used animal in different research activities. They proved to have the most valuable role as model animals in the cardiovascular research field. However, the use of conventional meat-type hybrids is hampered by their high growth potential, which makes them unsuitable for long-term follow-up or adult research in modeling chronic diseases. In these cases, the use of minipig breeds is a solution for the researchers. The research results obtained using small-size pig varieties can be well adapted or extrapolated to the knowledge and treatment of similar diseases in the human population, on the understanding that researchers should strive for a deeper understanding of the biological characteristics of these varieties.