Quantitative histological assessment of atrial fibrillation-associated fibrosis in animal models: a systematic review.

Heart Rhythm

Laboratory of Cardiac Physiology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 3B, DK-2200, Copenhagen, Denmark. Electronic address:

Published: March 2025

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common sustained arrhythmia and cardiac fibrosis is a major component in driving its progressive nature. Quantitative histological assessment of fibrosis in animal models is crucial for understanding AF, but current published studies present various methodologies that limit comparison. This systematic review examines 195 AF studies across multiple animal models (mice, rats, goats, dogs, pigs and horses) to summarize: 1) quantified fibrosis results, 2) methodologies for histological fibrosis assessment and 3) evaluate anti-fibrotic therapies used in these studies. The fibrosis quantified across the studies ranged from 0.34% to 60.2% depending on the animal, intervention model and quantification method. The findings underscore the need for a standardized fibrosis quantification protocol in AF research, enabling comparison across studies and offering greater insight into potential pharmacological interventions.

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http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.hrthm.2025.03.1880DOI Listing

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