12. Background Explain how the animal species and model used address the scientific objectives and, where appropriate, the relevance to human biology. explanation

Provide enough detail for the reader to assess the suitability of the animal model used to address the research question. Include information on the rationale for choosing a particular species, explain how the outcome measures assessed are relevant to the condition under study, and how the model was validated. Stating that an animal model is commonly used in the field is not appropriate, and a well-considered, detailed rationale should be provided.

When the study models an aspect of a human disease, indicate how the model is appropriate for addressing the specific objectives of the study [1]. This can include a description of how the induction of the disease, disorder, or injury is sufficiently analogous to the human condition, how the model responds to known clinically-effective treatments, how similar symptoms are to the clinical disease and how animal characteristics were selected to represent the age, sex, and health status of the clinical population [2].

References

1. Willner P (1986). Validation criteria for animal models of human mental disorders: Learned helplessness as a paradigm case. Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry. doi: 10.1016/0278-5846(86)90051-5
2. van der Worp HB, Howells DW, Sena ES, Porritt MJ, Rewell S, O'Collins V and Macleod MR (2010). Can Animal Models of Disease Reliably Inform Human Studies? PLOS Medicine. doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1000245