Table 1.

Animal models of ALI

Model	General/technical considerations
LPS17	High reproducibility, some resemblance to the human disease, strain specific
Oleic acid18	Reproducible, mechanisms of action not clear
Bacterial administration19, 20	Significant biological and individual variations, resemblance to toxemia
Cecal ligation and puncture21	Similarities to human disease, biological variability
Acid aspiration22	Reproducible, similarities to exudative phase of human disease
Bleomycin23	Reproducible, strain variability, pathophysiology still not well known
Hyperoxia24	Reproducible, scant inflammatory response, direct relationship with human disease questionable
Lavage of surfactant25	Some similarities to the human disease, technologically demanding
Ischemia/reperfusion26	Surgery needed, elevated interstitial participation
Mechanical stretch injury27-30,a	Challenging, mainly in small animals; ventilation strategy determines the severity of lung injury; type of ventilator and physiological monitoring are important; main advantage: clinical relevance

^aHigh tidal volume type of ventilation injury.