Frontiers in Nutrition (Aug 2016)

The use of rat and mouse models in bariatric surgery experiments

  • Thomas Alexander Lutz,
  • Marco Bueter

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2016.00025
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 3

Abstract

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Animal models have been proven to be a crucial tool for investigating the physiological mechanisms underlying bariatric surgery in general and individual techniques in particular. By using a translational approach most of these studies have been performed in rodents and have helped to understand how bariatric surgery may or may not work. However, data from studies using animal models should always be critically evaluated for their transferability to the human physiology. It is therefore the aim of this review to summarize both advantages and limitations of data generated by animal based experiments designed to investigate and understand the physiological mechanisms at the root of bariatric surgery.

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