A Comprehensive Review on the Surgical Aspect of Lung Transplant Models in Mice and Rats

Lung transplantation improves the outcome and quality of life of patients with end-stage pulmonary disease. However, the procedure is still hampered by the lack of suitable donors, the complexity of the surgery, and the risk of developing chronic lung allograft dysfunction. Over the past decades, translational experiments in animal models have led to a better understanding of physiology and immunopathology following the lung transplant procedure. Small animal models (e.g., rats and mice) are mostly used in experiments regarding immunology and pathobiology and are preferred over large animal models due to the ethical aspects, the cost-benefit balance, and the high throughput possibility. In this comprehensive review, we summarize the reported surgical techniques for lung transplantation in rodent models and the management of perioperative complications. Furthermore, we propose a guide to help identify the appropriate species for a given experiment and discuss recent experimental findings in small animal lung transplant models.

Automated summary

Lung transplantation enhances the outcomes and quality of life for patients with end-stage pulmonary disease, though it still faces challenges due to limited suitable donors, complex surgery, and the potential for chronic lung allograft dysfunction. Small animal models, such as rats and mice, have been extensively used in immunology and pathobiology research for lung transplantation, offering advantages in terms of ethical considerations, cost-effectiveness, and high throughput possibilities.