INTRODUCTION
Swine, Sus scrofa domestica, have been used in research to study physiologic and disease conditions mainly of the cardiovascular, digestive, renal, epidermal and reproductive systems. They are in general use as a model for training and research in surgery.
Both commercial breeds of swine used for meat production and miniature varieties are used. The main breeds of miniature swine used in research are the Yucatan, Hanford Gottingen and Sinclair, although many other breeds exist and are used to some degree.