Canadian Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology

Review Article

Choosing an Animal Model for the Study of Functional Dyspepsia

Table 1

Animal models of functional dyspepsia.
ApproachSpeciesMechanismPharmacologic actionT/CYearReference
Drug administration animal models      
Clonidine injectionSD rats, ICR mice, Beagle dogsα2-Adrenoceptor agonistsDelays gastric emptying and intestinal transitT2011, 2012, 2015, 2016[2, 6–9]
Atropine injectionSD rats, ICR miceMuscarinic acetylcholine receptor antagonistsDelays gastrointestinal transitT2008, 2012[10, 11]
Dopamine injectionICR miceDopamine agonistsDelays gastric emptyingT2012, 2016[9, 10]
Apomorphine injectionSD rats, ICR miceDopamine receptor agonistsDelays gastric emptyingT2008, 2010, 2011, 2015[2, 11–13]
5-HT injectionICR mice5-HT agonistsDelays gastric emptying and reduces small intestinal motilityT2012[10]
5-HT3 receptor agonist injectionICR mice5-HT receptor agonistsDelays gastric emptying and reduces small intestinal motilityT2012[10]
CRF injectionSD ratsStress hormoneDelays gastric emptyingT2012[14]
Cisplatin injectionSD rats, Swiss miceGastrointestinal side effectsDelays gastric emptyingT2008, 2012[11, 15]
Soybean oil administrationSD ratsGastric motilityDelays gastric emptyingT2012[14]
Neonatal intervention animal models      
Neonatal gastric irritationSD ratsMild gastritis in early lifeDelays gastric emptying, induces gastric hypersensitivity, impairs accommodation, increases depressive and anxious behaviorsC2008, 2011, 2014, 2017,[16–21]
Neonatal colon inflammationSD ratsColitis in early lifeDelays gastric emptying, induces gastric hypersensitivity, increases depressive behaviorsC2013, 2016, 2017[21–24]
Neonatal maternal separationWistar ratsChildhood traumaDelays gastric emptyingC2015, 2016[25, 26]
Stress stimulation animal models      
Restraint stressWistar rats, ICR mice,Chronic stressesDelays gastric emptyingC2008, 2015[2, 26–28]
Water-immersion restraint stressSD rats, Wistar ratsAcute stressesDelays gastric emptyingT2013, 2016[25, 29]
Tail clampingSD rats, Wistar ratsChronic stressesDelays gastric emptying, increases anxious behaviorsC2011, 2016[30–32]
CMUSSD ratsChronic stressesIncreases depressive behaviorsC2017[33]
Other intervention animal models      
Gastric distensionWistar ratsAbdominal muscleInduces visceral hyperalgesiaC2011[34]
LaparotomySD ratsLocal inflammationDelays gastrointestinal transitC2008, 2015[11, 35]
Duodenal acidificationSD ratsDuodenumInduces gastric hypersensitivityT2014[36]
Chronic high-fat feedingSD ratsGastric motilityDelays gastric emptyingC2015[37]
Special species animal models      
FSL ratsFSL ratsGenetic depressionDelays gastric emptying, impairs accommodation, increases depressive behaviorsC2005[38]
WKY ratsWKY ratsGenetic anxietyImpairs accommodation, increases anxious behaviorsC2007[39]
BB-DP ratsBB-DP ratsGenetic impaired accommodationImpairs gastric accommodationC2014[40]
Compound factors animal models      
Neonatal colon inflammation followed by adult gastric irritationSD ratsColitis in early life and gastritisDelays gastric emptying, induces gastric hypersensitivity, increases depressive behaviorsC2017[21]
Neonatal maternal separation followed by adult restraint stressWistar ratsChildhood trauma and chronic stressesDelays gastric emptyingC2015, 2016[25, 26]
T, temporary; C, continuous; SD, Sprague-Dawley; ICR, Institute of Cancer Research; 5-HT, 5-Hydroxytryptamine; CRF, corticotropin-releasing factor; CMUS, chronic mild unpredictable stimulation; FSL, Flinders Sensitive Line; WKY, Wistar Kyoto; BB-DP, BioBreeding diabetes-prone.