Animal models with characteristics of irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea: current applications and future perspectives

Irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea (IBS-D) is a common intestinal condition that significantly impacts work efficiency and quality of life. The use of animal models is crucial for delving into the pathophysiology of IBS-D and exploring therapeutic options. However, a wide variety of animal models for IBS-D has been used in previous studies, posing a considerable challenge for researchers in selecting a suitable model. In this review, using the Web of Science database, we searched IBS-D-related research spanning from 2014 to 2023; described the differences in animal strains and modeling methods among various IBS-D features recapitulating models; summarized the frequency of model usage, pathogenesis, and pathological characteristics of these models; and discussed their current applications, limitations, and future perspectives. The objective is to offer theoretical guidance for future researchers, aiding them in choosing suitable animal models based on their experimental designs.