Practical lecture -pharmacology Laboratory animals Practical lecture -pharmacology

Handling of animals Experiments will generally be performed on live animals, and these are to be treated kindly and handled with care. Animal research is the keystone of medical progress. Such studies provided the foundation of the current knowledge concerning the functions of the body

The Importance of Animals in Biomedical Research Life-saving surgical procedures; Cancer therapies; Organ transplantation; Vaccines; Safe consumer products Treatments and cures for countless other medical disorders and diseases. Daily, from vaccinations to prevent measles to product safety testing, the knowledge gained from animals used in research helps every single one of us, our pets, and the wildlife around us. Thousands of our pet cats and dogs are vaccinated each year and are thus spared from diseases such as feline leukemia, distemper, parvo, and rabies. Every time we take an aspirin or other pain reliever, apply sunscreen, or even brush our teeth, we are reaping the benefits of biomedical research. Reproductive techniques discovered through animal research can potentially save many endangered wildlife species from extinction.

The Importance of Animals in Biomedical Research organs and body systems similar to humans and other animals; susceptible to the same diseases that affect humans; short life span allows animals to be studied throughout their entire life; environment easily controllable to keep experimental variables to a minimum; Organs and body systems similar to humans and other animals – Animals are similar to humans in many ways. Not only do they have similar anatomies, but their physiologies are comparable as well. For instance, even though they may be different sizes and shapes, humans and animals both have bones that contain marrow and produce blood cells. Both have the same hormones that aid digestion and regulate the reproductive cycle. Susceptible to the same diseases that affect humans –Both humans and animals share some of the same diseases including many cancers, diabetes, and heart diseases. One example of this similarity is the dog whose cardiovascular system closely resembles that of the human. Because of this, the dog has been critical to understanding diseases that affect the heart and circulatory system. A few of the many successful medical breakthroughs in this one body system that can be attributed to the dog and that are now commonly applied to humans includes: Heart transplantation Development of the heart-lung machine which allows surgeons to keep the patient alive while performing heart surgery Coronary bypass surgery Artificial heart valves used to replace damaged or defective valves Pacemaker implantation needed to regulate an abnormal heartbeat Angioplasty used to unblock clogged coronary arteries Short life span allows animals to be studied throughout their entire life – Most research animals, especially rodents such as rats and mice, have short life spans so they can be studied throughout their entire life and even through several generations within a short period of time. Environment easily controllable to keep experimental variables to a minimum –Researchers are looking to see if their drug, surgery, or technique is effective. To allow for the most accurate and reliable data, they must keep experimental variables to a minimum. When animals are stressed, the research is not reliable. Therefore, it is in the best interest of the research being conducted for researcher to see that animals are maintained with regulated environments such as light, humidity, temperature, and sound.

The most important species of laboratory animals Mouse – most frequently used. Pharmacology, genetics of mammals, virology, models of human diseases Rat – physiology of cognitive processes, behaviour, models of diabetes Rabbit – serology, insulin quantification, pyrogens quantification, tests of irritable effect of chemical substances on the cornea Cat – study of CNS and respiratory system Dog – e.g. beagle, use in electrophysiology, neurophysiology Guinea-pig – in microbiology and serology, physiology of the auditory system Hamster - genetics Pig – training of surgical techniques Primates – chimpanzee – use in neurology, virology, behaviour Frog – physiology of blood circulation, electrophysiology Fish

MICE:- Lift the mouse by grasping the caudal end with the right hand and allow it to grip the wire mesh of the cage with its fore legs.With the left hand, grasp the nape of the animal !s neck between the thumb and index finger. The mouse is now ready for injection.  

RATS:- procedure for handling is same as mice and can be handled with a minimum of effort or with difficulty, depending on the treatment which they receive. If the rat is treated roughly, it will become vicious and difficult to handle,

Guinea pig:- is a very tame animal which presents no difficulty in handling. most injections may be made easily by using one hand to hold the pig firmly against your body. These animals are extremely susceptible to infection, therefore precaution regarding sterility should be observed during injections or surgical procedures.  

Rabbits rabbits should not be lifted by ears. Grasp the loose skin the nape of the neck with the left hand, the buttocks with the right hand and support the animal close to your body. keep in mind that rabbits do not normally utter sound they will only emit cries when in severe pain*

Signs of Pain and Distress in Rodents Decreased activity not grooming Hunched posture Rapid shallow Breathing “ Red tears “ albino rats” Vocalization Feed and/or water refusal Weight loss

GENETICS OF LABORATORY ANIMALS 1. Isogenic = genetically defined strains (isogenicity= genetic uniformity of all individuals) 2. Non-isogenic = genetically undefined strains 3. Genetically semi-defined strains

SYSTEMS OF BREEDING OF LABORATORY ANINMALS Open – communication without the barrier Barrier – the space with the animals is separated from external environment and movements of animals, people and material are controlled to eliminate possible introduction of factors from the external environment (infection) – sterilization of coming water, food, sawdust used for bedding, perfect personal hygiene of the personal. Isolator – the space for the animals is permanently separated by a barrier from external environment as well as from people who manipulate with the animals.

Scheme of barrier facility

Scheme of isolator Isolators: overpressure underpressure

Female Male sex differentiation

Healthy Mouse

Normal Rat

Normal Mouse Normal

Sick Mouse Hunched posture Hunched posture

“I’m so proud! All of my kids are going into research”