Selecting a suitable non-mouse animal model is a structured decision based on the research question, required anatomy or physiology, disease mechanism, endpoint feasibility, translational relevance, and ethical justification. Non-mouse models are preferred when mice cannot reproduce key human-relevant features, such as organ size, surgical anatomy, cardiovascular physiology, neuroanatomy, immune features, pharmacology, toxicology, or long-term clinical procedures. Candidate species may include rats, rabbits, guinea pigs, ferrets, zebrafish, pigs, sheep, goats, dogs, cats, horses, and non-human primates, but each species must be justified by its specific scientific advantage rather than convenience or tradition. Unresolved questions include how to quantify translational superiority across species, how to balance increased biological relevance against higher ethical burden, and when human-derived systems or new approach methodologies should replace animal use.
Non-mouse Animal Models
Non-mouse animal models encompass non-rodent mammals (such as dogs, monkeys, and pigs) as well as non-mammalian model organisms like zebrafish, fruit flies, and C. elegans. In research areas such as cardiovascular, metabolic, and neurodegenerative diseases and aging, these models help bridge the gaps between mice and humans regarding organ structure, physiological characteristics, and evolutionary distance, thereby offering greater clinical predictive value. Furthermore, thanks to advantages such as short lifecycles, ease of genetic manipulation, and suitability for high-throughput screening, they are frequently employed in the early exploration of disease mechanisms and the validation of drug targets. Integrating various non-mouse models facilitates the development of more precise multi-model research strategies, ultimately accelerating the translation of basic medical research into clinical applications.
Related Experimental Schemes
