Rodent models are the bedrock of pre-clinical research, providing a living system to dissect the causes of disease. While mice and rats have long dominated the field – their fast reproduction and ease of care make them practical tools – limiting research to these species overlooks crucial biological diversity. The reality is, humans are not simply scaled-up mice, and the answers to complex health questions may lie in less conventional models.
The Limitations of Traditional Models
For decades, scientists have relied on mice and rats to understand everything from cancer to neurodegenerative diseases. They’ve been invaluable, but they don’t capture the full spectrum of human biology. This is especially critical in women’s health, where sex-specific differences often go unaddressed. Using only male-centric models can lead to treatments that fail or even harm women.
The Naked Mole-Rat: An Aging-Resistant Breakthrough
One striking example of an underutilized model is the naked mole-rat. This odd rodent lives over 35 years – far longer than mice or rats – and displays exceptional resilience against cancer, metabolic disorders, and neurodegenerative diseases. This longevity makes it ideal for long-term studies that mimic human lifespans, allowing researchers to investigate the molecular mechanisms of aging.
But its unique biology extends further. Naked mole-rats exhibit extreme reproductive suppression in colonies, with only one breeding queen and male. Removing them from their colonies triggers puberty at any age, offering a controlled environment to study the “on switch” for puberty and the impact of stress and environment. This is particularly relevant, as women are twice as likely as men to experience depression and anxiety around puberty; this model allows researchers to isolate sex-specific factors driving this increased risk.
The Degu: A Natural Model for Alzheimer’s Disease
Another promising, yet overlooked, rodent is the degu. Unlike most models, degus spontaneously develop amyloid-beta plaques and tau tangles – hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease – without genetic engineering. This makes them a powerful tool for studying the disease’s progression in a way that closely mirrors the human condition.
Crucially, aged female degus show altered brain signaling in the hippocampus, a key region affected by Alzheimer’s, mirroring the fact that women comprise two-thirds of all Alzheimer’s cases. They also develop diabetes with human-like symptoms, including cataracts and blindness, providing a natural platform to investigate molecular interactions in these diseases.
Rethinking Translational Research
The key isn’t simply finding the “perfect” model, but strategically choosing the one that best addresses the research question. No single animal will ever perfectly replicate human biology. Instead, researchers must critically evaluate whether a model adequately encompasses as many relevant human traits as possible.
Novel models like naked mole-rats and degus offer a more comprehensive approach to translational work. By recognizing the limitations of traditional systems and embracing diversity in research, scientists can accelerate the development of therapies that truly benefit all patients.
Ultimately, expanding our toolkit beyond mice and rats is not just a scientific opportunity, it’s a necessity for advancing women’s health research and ensuring that treatments are designed for all bodies, not just some.
