Composite (Combined) Model - Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD) Model

Many researchers have combined the genetic modification techniques with diet or chemical induction to produce a composite (a.k.a. combined) animal model, which makes the phenotype and pathogenesis of the model closer to that of human MASLD. Composite models can more accurately reflect the progression of the disease development - from simple fatty liver to MASH, and progression to liver fibrosis.

The Most Commonly Used Composite Models: ob/ob mice + methionine-choline deficient (MCD) diet; db/db mice + methionine choline deficient (MCD) diet, Zucker rats + methionine choline deficient (MCD) diet/high fat diet.

The 'db/db mouse + MCD diet' model is more severe than the 'ob/ob mouse + MCD diet' model in both inflammation and fibrosis around the cells, and also demonstrates a significantly shortened induction period - which has led to predominate use of the 'db/db mouse + MCD diet' model.

Despite the relatively complicated modeling process, a composite model can maximize simulation of human MASLD, to develop more remarkable pathological changes.

Detection Items: body weight, food intake, serum biochemical test (alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, serum total cholesterol, triglyceride content, etc.), pathological analysis of liver tissue (liver tissue H & E staining, oil red).