The guinea pig as a model in shock research.

Studies described in this review characterize the guinea pig as useful for modeling pathophysiologic changes associated with a variety of shock states, including thermal injury. There are basic similarities in the hemodynamic and metabolic responsiveness of humans and guinea pigs to thermal trauma. Guinea pigs are readily available, relatively inexpensive, and easily maintained in the laboratory in accordance with specific nutrition-environmental requirements. The inherent tractability of the guinea pig, coupled with small body size, facilitates cardiorespiratory monitoring without anesthetic restraint. A limitation to using the guinea pig is the amount of information that can be obtained from one animal, but we have demonstrated that with the use of microtechnology, both hemodynamic and metabolic alterations in shock can be characterized in individual guinea pigs. Experimental models using guinea pigs can also be successfully utilized to investigate potential resuscitative and therapeutic modalities in shock.