Animals in Research

Federal Agencies

Enforce the protection, safety and well-being of research animals. Includes USDA & US Public Health Service

Ivan Pavlov

Experimented on dogs, in the late nineteenth century, to evaluate their "conditioned" responses (salivation), which also led to the study of behaviorism

Aristotle

Father of biology. Greek philosopher and scientist who was among the first to experiment on animals. Divided organisms into two groups: plants and animals. Divided animals into three groups based on how they moved: walked, flying or swimming

Louis Pasteur

French chemist and biologist who experimented on the origins of bacteria. Proved the germ theory by using anthrax in sheep and invented the process of pasteurization. Explained the importance of prevention by vaccination. Developed the rabies vaccine.

Claude Bernard

French physiologist and was known as the "Prince of Vivisection". Studied the physiology of digestion, metabolism and contributed to discovery of homeostasis. Argued the effects of experimenting on animals is vital to the health of humans.

Chimpanzee Sanctuary Act

Guarantees lifetime care for chimpanzees used, purchased or bred for research.

Diabetes

Metabolic disease where the body is unable to produce enough insulin resulting in elevated levels of glucose in the blood. Has been researched in dogs and resulted in the discovery of insulin deficiency and insulin cells.

Surgical Procedures

Often studied first in dogs and include heart surgeries, transplants, angioplasty and hip replacements.

Eye Disorders

Often studied in rabbits (ex: entropion, glaucoma)

Pigs

Often used for research because they are closely related to humans in skin, body systems, and anatomy. Has been used to research xenografts and CAT scans.

Animal Welfare Act

Passed by Congress in 1966. Protects animal from inhumane treatments, requires minimum standards of treatment and care, guarantees research animals have veterinary care, anesthesia or pain relievers, and the opportunity to exercise daily, and requires Institutional Animal Care & Use Committees at Research Institutions

Product Testing

Performed on mice/rats to measure the safety on household items, such as food additives, fabric treatments, and cosmetics

US Public Health Service (PHS)

Provides federal funding for animal research facilities and certifies facilities adhere to the Public Health Service Policy on Humane Care & Use of Laboratory Animals and the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals

Public Health Service Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals

Provides guidelines and principles, which include government policies, animal welfare assurance, recordkeeping and reporting requirements, and ethical conduct

Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals

Provides research institutions animal care and use protocol which is scientifically and humanely appropriate. Includes scientific, humane and ethical principles to follow

US Department of Agriculture

A US federal executive department whose responsibilities include governing policies of farming, agriculture, forestry and food. Includes APHIS and IACUC

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)

A branch of the USDA and is responsible for protecting and promoting US animal health, administering license and registration of regulated research facilities and regulating the Animal Welfare Act and the Chimpanzee Sanctuary Act

Cancer

A disease caused by the division of abnormal cells, which spread into tissues throughout the body. Researched using mice and rats in order to understand the development, prevention and curing of the disease.

Type II Diabetes

A disorder in which the body does not produce enough insulin or cells ignore the insulin. Studied in cats to understand proteins which decrease insulin production and may eventually lead to a cure for the disease.

Malaria

A life-threatening blood disease caused by parasites and is transmitted through mosquito bites. Vaccinations are being tested on infected non-human primates, although a cure has not been found

Hepatitis B

A more serious infection transmitted through bodily fluids. A vaccine which was created after researching and testing on non-human primates.

Nervous System

A network of nerves and cells in the body which carries messages to and from the brain. Studies in cats led to the understanding of how neurons function and how humans recover from strokes and traumatic injuries. Studies in cats allows for the exploration of gangliosidosis, which causes human skeletal disorders and mental retardation.

Rudolf Jaenisch

A scientist who used mice to produce the first transgenic mammal which led to a more advanced understanding of cancer, neurological and connective tissue diseases and developmental abnormalities.

Hepatitis C

A serious infection transmitted through bodily fluids. Does not have a vaccine, but non-human primates are still being used for research to find one.

CAT Scan

A special x-ray test which makes cross sectional images of the body. Was developed by using swine as models for humans.

Cats

Account for less than one percent of animals used in research each year. Contract similar disease as humans like AIDS, leukemia, type II diabetes, and breast cancer.

Poliomyelitis Virus

Also known as polio and is a highly contagious viral infection which can lead to paralysis, breathing problems and even death. Studied in non-human primates to research the production and testing of the polio vaccine.

Hepatitis A

An acute infection transmitted through fecal contamination of infected animals. Has a vaccine which was created after researching and testing on non-human primates.

Dogs

Represent less than one percent of animals used in research each year. Resemble the human respiratory and cardiovascular systems. Have been used to study surgical procedures and diabetes.

Institutional Animal Care and Use Committees (IACUC)

Required at research institutions by the Animal Welfare Act. Used to oversee and evaluate the institution's animal care and use program. Responsibilities are reviewing the facility's animal care and use program, inspecting the animal labs at least twice a year, monitoring research protocol, responding and acting upon complaints, and reporting improper use and care.

AIDS

An immune system disorder which heightens susceptibility to opportunistic diseases and infections. Studied in cats and has led to the creation of a vaccine which is being researched as a model for a human AIDS vaccine.

Acute Respiratory Disease

An infection which interrupts normal breathing and often leads to a viral infection of the respiratory system. Affects both humans and chimpanzees and vaccines are being tested on chimpanzees

Breast Cancer

Any type of cancerous growth in the breath tissue and is the greatest killer of women. Studied in cats to understand the disease which may eventually lead to a cure.

Leukemia

Cancer of the bone marrow which inhibits the normal manufacturing of red and white blood cells as wells as platelets. Studied in cats to understand the disease and may eventually lead to a cure.

Charles Darwin

Created the Theory of Evolution in 1859. Supported testing of animals for advancements in physiology and medicine.

Non-Human Primates

Share more behavioral and biological traits with humans than any other animals. (ex: gorillas, chimpanzees, macaques). Have been used to research and study polio, HIV, hepatitis, malaria and respiratory diseases

Rabbits

Share similar physiology to humans and often suffer from the same diseases. Are often used in research of cancer implementation, cholesterol, eye disorders, toxicology.

HIV

Stands for human immunodeficiency virus and is the virus that causes AIDS. Related to the simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) which effects non-human primates whose vaccines are administered to stop viral progression which are being researched to apply to humans with HIV.

Research

The act of making extensive investigations in order to discover or revise facts, theories or applications

Hepatitis

The inflammation of the liver caused by various infectious agents or toxins, including alcohol. Includes A, B, and C strains.

Mice/Rats

The most commonly used in research due to small size, low cost, and are prolific. They share more than 90 percent of genes with humans. Are often used in research of cancer, product testing, toxicology, and virology.

Cancer Implementation

The process in which cancer cells are injected into rabbits. Used in rabbits to study chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and prevention of cancer.

Toxicology

The science or the study of chemical substances and their effects on living organisms. Testing is performed on mice/rats to study short to long term effects, monitor continuous and accidental exposure, and examine if irritant to skin or eyes.

Virology

The science or the study of viruses and the diseases in which they cause. Used in pre-clinical studies to determine effects of various vaccines. Studies on mice/rats have led to development of several vaccines like influenza, polio, yellow fever, and rabies.

Xenograft

The transplantation of living tissue from one species to another. Often completed on human burn victims using swine tissue. Procedures have been so successful that xenograft transplantation is now being looked at in swine, which will allow organs to be transplanted into humans.

Animal Research

The use of non-human animals in experiments. Most commonly focuses on disease treatment and prevention. Assess the safety and effectiveness of medication and cosmetics.

Angioplasty

Unblocking of coronary arteries

Anticoagulants

Used to prevent the clotting of blood. Were first discovered after being studied on cats.

Cholesterol

Waxy substance created in the liver which is then circulated through the blood. Used to produce steroid hormones required for normal development and functioning. Harmful to the body if there are excess amounts. Levels are monitored and studied in rabbits.

Refinement (minimizing animal distress/pain), Reduction (reducing number of animals used in experiments), & Replacement (replacing animal experiments with non-animal experiments)

What are the 3 R's of Animal Research?

Peter Singer

Wrote against animal experimentation with his book "Animal Liberation". Suggested primates were capable of human emotions.

Glaucoma

a disease which damages the optic nerve and leads to vision loss

Entropion

a disorder when eyelashes are turned inward