The economic use of laboratory animals?

The economic use of laboratory animals? by Stephen Driver, BSc, Matrix Biologicals Ltd.UK as published in Lab Animal Europe (www.labanimaleurope.eu) in February 2008

We are all very familiar with the philosophy of the 3Rs in laboratory animal science as presented by Russell and Burch. This suggests that we refine, reduce and replace the use of animals in experimental procedures. With this in mind, our regulatory bodies request that we constantly evaluate and justify the number of animals used to ensure that this number is minimized. This is our moral obligation as stewards of the animal kingdom and should be the premise from which we plan our experiments and procedures. I would ask whether we currently minimize the use of animal subjects as effectively as we can, or whether the number of animals used could be reduced further by minimising waste. In many instances, only a small part of an animal is used. I propose the introduction of a fourth R, for 'reclamation'. Where appropriate, tissues and fluids that are not required for other uses and obtained from animals culled for experimental purposes could be collected and made available for other users. Such tissues and fluids could be used fresh or stored by freezing or fixation.

Recently, while working in a university, I removed spinal tissue from a culled rat for one department. I was then able to supply whole blood from the same animal for the university's haematology department, obviating the need for another animal to be used. This situation was fortuitous, but it helped me realise how appropriate and achievable this type of multi-use of an animal could be. Other tissues could have been collected from this same animal as well. For example, the liver is a valuable source of hepatocytes. With careful planning and good communication, especially within institutions, this use of many parts of an animal could become standard practice and should be encouraged. Those of us with responsibility for the care and welfare of animals are in an ideal position to coordinate and facilitate this exchange of material. Each animal life is precious and animal products should be used respectfully and not forfeited out of hand. Some species, however, are scarcer and, consequently, more valuable than others. Among these are primates. It is therefore of paramount importance that waste of these precious resources is avoided. At the risk of being accused of overusing alliteration, I now propose my fifth R, 'repository'. By this, I refer to a central bank of tissues, organs and fluids that have been ethically collected after primary use of the animal. These would then be available for other scientific users.

As with all banking agencies, any organisation co-ordinating such an operation needs to be dedicated and professional. It needs to be able to network and distribute, as well as demand confidence within the industry. Year upon year, national statistics can give information on the numbers of animals used, reused, used for the first time, etc. But these statistics give no indication of what proportion of the animal is actually used, or how much of what is disposed could have been used for other scientific purposes.

In conclusion, the onus of responsibility for the economic use of laboratory animals rests on us and should be given careful consideration.

Stephen Driver, BSc, Matrix Biologicals Ltd.UK

Back