Mini pigs as the object of pre-clinical studies
At present, different laboratory animals such as rats, mice, rabbits and ferrets are used as biological models in preclinical trials for testing drugs. In Europe mini-pigs are widely used now as biological test systems for preclinical trials because of their anatomical and physiological similarities to man. Using mini-pigs for preclinical trials in Russia will ensure higher quality of trials and more reliable research results. Mini-pigs are widely used for dermatological research; a list of models that can be successfully reproduced includes contact dermatitis, delayed hypersensitivity, cutaneous melanoma, bullous pemphigoid, radiation, laser skin lesions, psoriasis genetic. Mini-pigs are similar to man in terms of the structure of the dental system. The anatomical structure of the alveolar islets makes it possible to use mini-pigs in experimental dental implantology. Mini-pigs are widely used for modeling pathologies of cardiovascular system such as atherosclerosis and myocardial infarction. The similarity of the digestive systems of mini-pigs and man is widely used for modeling gastric ulcers, duodenal ulcers and colitis. As our research shows, biochemical and hematological parameters of mini-pigs make them suitable biological test-systems for toxicological trials, which allow to test toxicological and effective doses of drugs in clinical research. Physiological and anatomical features of mini-pigs have much in common with man. Due to this, the results obtained in the trial on mini-pigs have a high predictive value when transferred to man. This makes minipigs preferable models at the stage of pre-clinical trials both: in the safety assessment and in assessment of drug efficacy