Animal (Rodent) models of kidney disease: a literature review

Acute kidney injury (AKI) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) are common clinical entities with progressively increasing incidence and high associated mortality. Given the multifactorial etiology of renal failure, a variety of animal models have been developed to study these conditions. Establishing reliable, stable, and reproducible models of AKI and CKD is fundamental to advancing the mechanistic understanding and therapeutic exploration of these diseases. Modeling strategies vary considerably depending on the specific research objectives. Among these, rodent models have been extensively utilized to elucidate the pathogenesis and progression of kidney diseases, as well as to identify potential therapeutic targets. This review provides an overview of surgically, pharmacologically or toxin-induced models of AKI, along with various established approaches for modeling CKD and other kidney diseases. Furthermore, it outlines the inherent advantages, limitations, and challenges of these preclinical models, thereby providing a framework for testing new therapeutic approaches.