AALAS ALAT ManualChapter 1- History & Purpose of Laboratory Animal Science & Animal Care ProgramsTamara Goodman KuhelRVT, RLATG, CPIA
Review of Chapter 1
• Animal Experimentation• AALAS• Other Associations• Ethics of Animal Use• The Three Rs: Replacement, Refinement, & Reduction• Who has Benefitted from Research with Animals?• The Role of the Assistant Laboratory Animal Technician
in Research
• Aristotle’s animal observations laid foundation for comparative anatomy & embryology
• Erasistratus’ contributions to identifying veins/arteries/heart valves & understanding blood flow
• Galen established principles for experimental research• Little scientific advancement during Dark Ages• Renewed interest in scientific discovery during the
Renaissance• Significant number of major medical advances during
latter half of 19th century• 1915- 1st laboratory animal veterinarian• 1950s heralded beginning of laboratory animal
sciences as an organized field…
Animal Experimentation
Evolution of AALAS
Animal Care Panel
Southern Ohio Branch of
AALAS
Guide for the Care & Use of
Laboratory Animals
Association for the Assessment & Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care
American Association of
Laboratory Animal Science
Mattingly AALAS President
1950 1952/1963 1963 1965 1967 1983
“Chicago Five” Founding Fathers:
Brewer, Bond, Cohen, Flynn, &
Schroeder
1st Meeting held in Kettering
Laboratory in 1952; officially affiliated with
AALAS in 1963First edition of the Guide published
Animal Facilities Accreditation
Board becomes AAALAC
ACP becomes AALAS
UC’s own Dr. Steele Mattingly elected AALAS
President
ACP forms AALAS & AAALAC
• Principal means of communication between individuals & organizations within laboratory animal science
• Provides internationally recognized professional certification program for technicians
• Publications• Comparative Medicine• Journal of AALAS• Tech Talk• AALAS in Action
AALAS Today
Other Associations
• Association for Assessment & Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care International
• National Association for Biomedical Research
• American Veterinary Medical Association
• American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine
• People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals
Ethics of Animal Use
• Definition of “ethics”• Principles of honor & morality• Accepted rules of conduct• Moral principles of an individual
• Knowledge gained for the benefit of humans AND animals more than justifies animal experimentation, but it must be done in an ethical manner & certain rules of conduct followed…the Three Rs
The Three Rs
• Replacement, Refinement, & Reduction• Based on Russell & Burch’s 1959 publication
“The Principles of Humane Experimental Technique”• Sought to minimize the increasing number of
animals being used in medical and veterinary research.
• Reports results from research on ethical laboratory techniques.
Replacement…the 1st R
• Replace experimental animals with alternatives when possible.• Computer models?• Grow cells artificially in the lab?• Use cells instead of whole animal? Collaborate?
Also example of reducing
• Replace with “lower” species? • Develop transgenic mice rather than using dogs? • Replace mice with zebrafish? Drosophila?
Refinement…the 2nd R
• Refine to reduce animal pain & suffering• Analgesia…
Give after animal is anesthetized so 2nd injection not felt?
• Training vs. Restraint deviceEspecially useful with nonhuman primates
• Enrichment?
http://www.forschung3r.ch/fr/publications/bu30.html
Reduction…the 3rd R
• Reduce number of experimental animals used.• Minimize the number of animals necessary to
yield statistically sound data & produce scientific benefit.
• Reduce total number of animals used by using and/or sharing animal tissue/cells.
• Good record keeping is critical for ensuring that the least possible number of animals is used in experiments.
Appropriate Selection of Species
Biomedical researchers study animals to understand both animals & humans
because of shared similarities
The Three Rs in the Guide• IACUC protocol must address availability or appropriateness of the
use of other species, isolated organ preparation, cell or tissue culture, or computer simulation (page 10)
• IACUC Protocol (page 10)• Justification for number of animals requested • Unnecessary duplication of experiments • Availability or appropriateness of the use of less-invasive
procedures • Appropriate sedation, analgesia, & anesthesia • Conduct of multiple major operative procedures
• Avoidance or minimization of discomfort, distress, & pain in concert with sound science (page 2)• Well trained care takers & researchers• Positive interactions between care takers & animals
• US Government Principle IV “Unless the contrary is established, investigators should consider that procedures that cause pain or distress in human beings may cause pain or distress in other animals.” (page 117)Anthropomorphism?
The Three Rs in the AWARs
IACUC review of activities involving animals (page 34)• Avoid or minimize discomfort, distress, & pain to the
animals;• Consider alternatives to procedures that may cause more
than momentary or slight pain or distress to the animals;• Assure activities do not unnecessarily duplicate previous
experiments;• Procedures that may cause more than momentary or slight
pain or distress to the animals will be performed with appropriate sedatives, analgesics or anesthetics;
• Animals that would otherwise experience severe or chronic pain or distress that cannot be relieved will be painlessly euthanized at the end or during the procedure;
• Personnel conducting procedures will be appropriately qualified and trained in those procedures;
• No animal will be used in more than one major operative procedure from which it is allowed to recover.
Who Has Benefitted from Animal Research?
Those who have used antibiotics to combat infections
Children & adults who have been immunized
Pet vaccines against rabies, leukemia, & more
Drugs to fight infections, parasites, & cancer (human & pet animal) have all been first
tested on research animals.
Polio Milestones…
Franklin D. Roosevelt & the March of Dimes
1st Known US Epidemic
1st Major US Epidemic
FDR Contracts Polio 1st Iron Lung
FDR Elected President
National Foundation for
Infantile Paralysis FDR dies
1894 1916 1921 1928 1932 1938 1945
Increasing number of outbreaks each year
Not just children at risk-
FDR was 39
Preserves breathing function in
patients with acute polio
FDR founds NFIP, now known as
March of Dimes April 12th
Polio Milestones…
Vaccines & Eradication
Worst US Epidemic
Salk’s Vaccine
Incidence of Polio ↓
Sabin’s Vaccine
Last Reported US Case
America Polio-Free
W. Pacific Polio-Free
Europe Polio-Free
1952 1952-1954 1955-1957 1962 1979 1994 2000 2002
57,800+ cases
reported
Injectable Polio
Vaccine
US Incidence ↓ 85-90%
Oral Polio Vaccine
Caused by wild virus
Americas certified
polio-free
W. Pacific certified
polio-free
European Region certified
polio-free
The Role of the ALAT in Research
Role of ALAT…• Regulatory guidelines require training of people caring
for & using experimental animals• Duties typically entail day-to-day animal husbandry &
facility maintenance (e.g. room sanitization, cage wash)• Sanitation & sterilization procedures• Observe & report changes in animal room
environment• Handle, restrain, & determine sex of common laboratory
animals• Recognize & report animal care problems,
differentiating between normal & abnormal• Perform various identification methods• Provide routine treatments (e.g. clipping toenails)
Role of ALAT…
• ALAT is member of research TEAM• Researchers depend on consistent & thorough animal
care• Be aware that changes in environment or handling of
animals can introduce variables to research projects• ALAT’s work has direct impact on experimental
data• Accurate records- Mistakes could invalidate data and/or
result in animal euthanasia (waste!)• Validates results• Must be able to maintain & provide accurate, legible
records for his/her areas of responsibility
Role of ALAT…
• Absolutely vital that ALAT learn to ask questions if there is any confusion as to a procedure to be performed.
• Mistakes on animal records, ear tag, improper dilution of disinfectant can all result in serious problems if not discovered & corrected.
• ALWAYS ASK if you are in doubt & notify your supervisor immediately if you discover a mistake.
Definitions• Animal Model
• Ethics
• Laboratory Animal Science
• Reduction
• Refinement
• Replacement
• Russell & Burch
• Three Rs
• Unconscious
Acronyms• AAALAC
• AALAS
• ACLAM
• ALAT
• AVMA
• NABR
• PETA
Acknowledgements
• AALAS 50 Years of Laboratory Animal Science• AALAS 2005 ALAT Manual• Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory
Animals• Animal Welfare Act Regulations • March of Dimes website• Numerous websites for images!