A Hereditary Rat Model of Umbilical Hernia: Systematic Characterization, Susceptibility Gene Mapping, and Mechanism Exploration

Limited progress in understanding umbilical hernia (UH) pathogenesis stems from scarce genetically stable models. We established a hereditary rat model recapitulating human UH across phenotypic, histological, and molecular dimensions. Persistent herniation from infancy to adulthood exhibited size-weight correlation in adults. Histopathology revealed hernial ring fibrosis, linea alba defects, and collagen dysregulation: reduced collagen I and elevated collagen III , confirming ECM imbalance. Microsatellite analysis validated genetic stability. Transcriptomics identified 1,031 differentially expressed genes, enriched in ECM remodeling and immune homeostasis. Cross-species comparative analysis of transcriptomic datasets from established porcine models uncovered conserved pathological mechanisms. Key hub genes (CCL2, CCR5, EGFR, ITGA3) were qPCR-validated, revealing pathways driving collagen disorganization. This homogeneous model bridges translational gaps for etiology and therapy studies.