Experimental animal models of acute pancreatitis.

Experimental animal models have been employed to study pancreatitis for more than a century. Although not always related to the disease in humans, they have contributed greatly to our current understanding of the pathophysiology and cell biology of this disease. They have also become a standard tool for testing new and promising treatments against pancreatitis. The following article will review the most commonly used experimental models of pancreatitis and some of the lessons we have learned from them.