Experimental Injury Rodent Models for Oropharyngeal Dysphagia

Oropharyngeal dysphagia is a disorder that can make swallowing difficult and reduce the quality of life. Recently, the number of patients with swallowing difficulty has been increasing; however, no comprehensive treatment for such patients has been developed. Various experimental animal models that mimic oropharyngeal dysphagia have been developed to identify appropriate treatments. This review aims to summarize the experimentally induced oropharyngeal dysphagia rodent models that can be used to provide a pathological basis for dysphagia. The selected studies were classified into those reporting dysphagia rodent models showing lingual paralysis by hypoglossal nerve injury, facial muscle paralysis by facial nerve injury, laryngeal paralysis by laryngeal and vagus nerve injury, and tongue dysfunction by irradiation of the head and neck regions. The animals used in each injury model, the injury method that induced dysphagia, the screening method for dysphagia, and the results are summarized. The use of appropriate animal models of dysphagia may provide adequate answers to biological questions. This review can help in selecting a dysphagia animal system tailored for the purpose of providing a possible solution to overcome dysphagia.