Translational research has currently become the focus of many ongoing
studies. The use of inbred animals represents an advantage to human studies to a
certain point because of the elimination of several uncontrollable variables. However,
we need to consider the limitation of such approach in the translational potential to
humans. Within the field of hypertension and diabetes research, animal models are
irreplaceable research tools providing insight into human diseases. These two diseases
independently predispose to renal and cardiovascular complications but, more
importantly, can aggravate each other. Although some of the best models for diabetes
and hypertension are spontaneous, the use of transgenic models provides a better
control of the pathological mechanisms to be studied and the combination of the
available tools will most likely make a difference in understanding how the RAS is
modulated in diabetes and hypertension. Although these animals add a few layers of
complexity and are sometimes closer to the human pathological mechanism, there are
still many challenges to overcome.
Keywords: Animal models, Basic research, Diabetes, Hypertension, In vivo studies,
Knock out, Mice, Rats, RAS, Renin-angiotensin system, SHR, Spontaneously
hypertensive rats, Transgenic, Translational medicine, Type 1 diabetes, Type 2 diabetes.