Alternate animal use in Research

Submitted bySharon A.J. 2009-03-10

Animal use in Research

Treatment and cure of major human and animal health problems like cancer Diabetes

Biomedical research

Behavioral studies

Serve as models for testing the safety of a wide range of consumer products

Objectives of alternative animal use Reduction in animal pain, suffering,& experimental

Insult

Reduction in the number of animals used

Reduction in the cost of research

Savings in time, with the benefit of obtaining results more quickly.

The ability to perform replicative protocols on a routine basis.

Alternative to animal use in research Continued but modified animal use

Use of living systems

Use of nonliving systems

Computer simulation

Continued & Modified animal use

Alternative species used

Advancements in instrumentation

Reduction in number of animals

Living system

In Vitro Research 1.Organ Culture 2.Tissue Culture 3.Cell Culture

Human tissues and cells Invertebrates Micro organism Plants

Microbe used

Escherichia coli—bacteria used by developmentalbiologists to derive theories of genecontrol and by molecular biologists in recombinantDNA research .

Streptococcus mutans—bacteria used in dentalresearch on the metabolic activity of plaque

Non living system

Chemical and Physical Systems

"Synthetic skin," called Corrositex

Computer simulation

Using existing databases

Improved statistical design

Simulating conditons

3 R’s

The words now used almost universally by the research community and by animal protection advocates to describe alternatives are “The Three Rs”

R efinement: minimize suffering and distress R eduction: minimize number of animals used R eplacement: avoid the use of living animals

Replacements The National Cancer Institute (NCI) has replaced

nearly 6 million mice per year with human cells in an in vitro culture

At some veterinary schools, plastic soft-tissue organ models are replacing the dogs traditionally used to teach beginning surgery

The U.S. Department of Defense has developed computer models of dolphin echolocation (sonar) that will replace animals as underwater object detectors.

Reductions

Scientists using state-of-the-art medical technologies MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) MRS (magnetic resonance spectroscopy) CAT (computer-aided tomography)

To detect tumours growth and organ deterioration at early stages. enables experiments to end more humanely, without prolonged suffering, reduces the number of animals needed for cancer researches.

Refinements

Some research facilities have developed new ways to enrich the laboratory environment.

Isolation & boredom removed for better results.

New caging systems allow monkeys to live in pairs or groups, reducing some of the stress experienced by these highly-social animals.

THE END.