Development of Animal Model of Human Heart Failure

Recent experimental findings indicate that many of the animal models of heart disease previouslystudied do not compare well to human heart failure. It is clear that new animal models should bedeveloped. National and international experts have recently recognized the turkey model as useful in thestudy of heart failure. This furazolidone-induced myopathic model possesses key similarities to recentlydefined human heart failure which makes it worthy of development. By developing this model ofcardiovascular disease in a non-mammalian species, investigators can gain new insights into thepathophysiology of heart disease and test new pharmacologic agents for therapeutic efficacy andpotency. Our overall objective is to make available an animal model of heart failure in turkey poults toindividual investigators and to the pharmaceutical industry. There will be a tissue bank available toinvestigators not requiring live animals for in vivo studies. We will provide a number of services toinvestigators who would like to test experimental agents on these animals or perform basic research inour facilities. Phase I will establish the requirements for efficiently producing dilated cardiomyopathy ofvarying degrees and durations in turkey poults and establish wet lab facilities.