Experimental Animal Models of Preeclampsia: Mechanisms, Strengths, and Translational Relevance

Jane F Reckelhoff; Vladimir Dokic; Denise C Cornelius; Babbette LaMarca; Styliani Goulopoulou; Jessica Faulkner; Jenny L Sones; Mark Santillan; Michael Lin; Jungwei W Fan; Vesna D Garovic

doi:10.1161/ATVBAHA.126.322192

Back

Experimental Animal Models of Preeclampsia: Mechanisms, Strengths, and Translational Relevance

Journal article

Peer reviewed

Experimental Animal Models of Preeclampsia: Mechanisms, Strengths, and Translational Relevance

Jane F Reckelhoff, Vladimir Dokic, Denise C Cornelius, Babbette LaMarca, Styliani Goulopoulou, Jessica Faulkner, Jenny L Sones, Mark Santillan, Michael Lin, Jungwei W Fan, …

Arteriosclerosis, thrombosis, and vascular biology, Vol.46(9), e322192

09/2026

DOI: 10.1161/ATVBAHA.126.322192

PMID: 42647654

View Online

Abstract

Preeclampsia is a heterogeneous hypertensive disorder of pregnancy characterized by new-onset hypertension and end-organ dysfunction, affecting 5% to 10% of pregnancies globally. It is associated with significant maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality, and delivery remains the only definitive treatment. Understanding the underlying mechanisms is essential for the development of effective therapies. Given the heterogeneity of preeclampsia and the absence of a single experimental model that fully recapitulates the human disease, the purpose of this review is to evaluate current animal models of preeclampsia according to the pathophysiological mechanisms they represent. We discuss the strengths, limitations, and translational relevance of these models, identify gaps in the existing experimental framework, and highlight opportunities for future model development and therapeutic discovery. Current models reproduce distinct features of preeclampsia, including abnormal placentation, placental ischemia, angiogenic imbalance, endothelial dysfunction, immune activation, and metabolic dysregulation. Despite mechanistic insights, translational success has been limited. Future progress will depend on mechanism-driven model selections, development of models that better capture early placentation defects and disease heterogeneity, multi-hit approaches, including the incorporation of maternal comorbidities, and integration of human-relevant experimental systems to improve clinical translation.

Pregnancy

Animals

Disease Models, Animal

Female

Humans

Placenta - blood supply

Placenta - physiopathology

Placentation

Pre-Eclampsia - etiology

Pre-Eclampsia - metabolism

Pre-Eclampsia - physiopathology

Translational Research, Biomedical

Details

Title: Subtitle: Experimental Animal Models of Preeclampsia: Mechanisms, Strengths, and Translational Relevance
Creators: Jane F Reckelhoff - University of Mississippi Medical Center
Vladimir Dokic - Mayo Clinic
Denise C Cornelius - University of Mississippi Medical Center
Babbette LaMarca - University of Mississippi Medical Center
Styliani Goulopoulou - Loma Linda University
Jessica Faulkner - Augusta University
Jenny L Sones - Colorado State University
Mark Santillan - University of Iowa
Michael Lin - Mayo Clinic
Jungwei W Fan - Mayo Clinic
Vesna D Garovic - Mayo Clinic
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Arteriosclerosis, thrombosis, and vascular biology, Vol.46(9), e322192
DOI: 10.1161/ATVBAHA.126.322192
PMID: 42647654
ISSN: 1079-5642
eISSN: 1524-4636
Publisher: American Heart Association
Grant note: R01 HL169576 / NHLBI NIH HHS P20 GM121334 / NIGMS NIH HHS P50 HD103556 / NICHD NIH HHS UL1 TR002377 / NCATS NIH HHS U54 AG075941 / NIA NIH HHS R01 HD114145 / NICHD NIH HHS U54 HL169191 / NHLBI NIH HHS R01 DK134695 / NIDDK NIH HHS U54 HL170290 / NHLBI NIH HHS UM1 TR004403 / NCATS NIH HHS
Language: English
Date published: 09/2026
Academic Unit: Obstetrics and Gynecology
Record Identifier: 9985220842902771

Metrics

1 Record Views