A SHR rat, also known as spontaneously hypertensive rat, is a specific strain of laboratory rats widely used in scientific research related to hypertension and cardiovascular diseases.
These rats were initially developed in the 1960s by selective breeding of Wistar-Kyoto rats to exhibit a tendency towards developing high blood pressure. The SHR rat strain is characterized by its hereditary predisposition to spontaneously develop hypertension, mimicking the human condition.
The term "SHR" stands for spontaneously hypertensive rat because these rats display a tendency to develop high blood pressure without any specific external factors. This makes them an ideal model for investigating the underlying mechanisms, genetic factors, and potential treatments for hypertension. Researchers have extensively studied SHR rats to unravel the complex physiological, genetic, and environmental factors contributing to hypertension and cardiovascular diseases.
Due to their sensitivity to dietary factors, stress, and age-related changes in blood pressure, SHR rats have proven valuable in preclinical studies evaluating the efficacy of various pharmacological agents, lifestyle interventions, and genetic manipulations. They have provided important insights into the pathophysiology of hypertension and are instrumental in developing novel therapeutic approaches for managing high blood pressure in humans.
Overall, the SHR rat strain has become an essential component of experimental models aiming to understand and combat hypertension, making significant contributions towards improved health outcomes in humans.
