Table I.

Mouse Vein Graft Model Advantages/Disadvantages

Advantages	Disadvantages
The most commonly used mammalian model organism, with a robust existing literature Advanced genetics (mouse genome has been sequenced) and array of mice available Established models of human disease, such as hypercholesterolemia, diabetes and obesity Less sentient than other available animal vein graft models	Many murine models are new, and lack a longstanding track record
Relatively similar to humans in anatomy, physiology and genetics	As with all non-human research, applicability to the human situation may be limited
Technological advances allow physiologic monitoring, such as flow rate, and blood pressure monitoring	Monitoring and measuring may lack resolution in small mammals Small scale instruments and monitoring devices can be relatively expensive
Small, easy to maintain and handle, low housing costs Have a short generation time, reproduce quickly and prolific Low doses/volumes required for test solutions (e.g. antibodies, gene therapy vehicles, pharmacologic compounds)	Surgical procedures can be difficult to complete and reliably reproduce due to the small size of the murine vasculature Available tissue quantities for assays are small Limited volume of intimal hyperplasia in wild type mice can make identification of preventative therapies difficult
Wide availability of reagents for use with murine tissue	Antibodies are often of murine origin