A review on experimental sinusitis models in rabbits

Abstract

Experimental animal models are instrumental to study the pathogenesis of diseases and to examine the results of treatment. The great size and ease of accessibility have made rabbit sinuses popular in the investigation of experimental sinusitis. Microbiologic, histopathologic, and radiologic aspects of this model have been well-described and the effects of medical and surgical treatments on sinusitis have been examined. Ongoing research may provide further data to find more simple and non-invasive methods to induce sinusitis in rabbits that may more closely simulate sinusitis pathogenesis in humans. This article reviews the most recent data on technical, surgical, microbiologic, histopathologic, and radiologic aspects, and complications of sinusitis models in rabbits.