Table 3 Comparison of human parturition and preterm birth with animal models
From: The genomics of preterm birth: from animal models to human studies
Species | Source of progesterone in late gestation | Fall in serum progesterone at term | Gestation length (days) | Number of fetuses | Sequenced genome | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Human | Placenta | No | 266 | 1 | Yes | Excellent model for genomic studies, complicated by complex environmental factors |
Guinea pig | Placenta | No | 67 | 1 to 6 (average 3) | Yes | A lengthy gestation period (in comparison with other rodents) and lack of optimized reagents limits the use of this organism as a model of preterm birth |
Mice | Corpus luteum of the ovary | Yes | 19.5 | 6 to 8 | Yes | A short gestation length, optimized reagents, and easily manipulated genetics make this model ideal to work with. However, the necessity of progesterone withdrawal before the onset of labor limits its applicability to human parturition |
Rhesus macaque | Placenta | No | 164 | 1 | Yes | Lack of optimized reagents, the expense and time to maintain and study this organism, and the unfeasibility of genetic manipulation make the use of this model impractical |
Sheep | Placenta | Yes | 147 | 1 to 2 | Yes | Labor is preceded by progesterone withdrawal, which differs from human parturition. This model is expensive to maintain, limiting the number of animals that can be used per experiment |