Animal experiment
All invasive use of an animal for experimental, educational or other purpose with known or unknown
effect, which causes similar or more pain, suffering, fear or damage to the animal than introducing a
needle according to good veterinary practice.
Art. 1a: Any right accorded by or pursuant to this act shall be exercised in recognition of the intrinsic
value of animal life.
Aiming at defining the best animal model and the best experimental procedure. Which should result
in the increase of reliability, reduction of the animals used and reduced suffering for the animals.
Experimental animal
Living vertebrate:
o After 1/3 of the gestation (dracht) a mammal is considered a living animal
o After hatching a bird/reptile/fish is considered a living animal
Shaking an egg is not an experiment when the egg isn’t hatched
o When larvae eat autonomously they are considered a living animal
Living cephalopods
Discomfort for the subject
Discomfort is cumulative, so a series below threshold may become above threshold. Birth can be
above threshold for genetic manipulated subjects.
Mild discomfort: little impact on the animal
Moderate discomfort: for example surgery with anaesthesia
Severe discomfort: prolonged suffering
Terminal: performed under anaesthesia followed by killing the animal.
Non recovery: is considered the lowest, because for an animal it feels likes falling asleep and
the experiment is conducted without consciousness.
Factors determining the level of discomfort are the severity, the frequency and the duration. The
integrity is the moral relevant part.
Waking up from anaesthesia is very invasive for an animal. Animals shouldn’t suffer needlessly so use
anaesthesia and analgesia.
Spontaneous death should be avoided as final parameter. Replace by humane endpoints.
3R’s (Replacement, Reduction, Refinement)
Replacement: any scientific method employing non-sentient material, which may replace animal
experiments.
In vitro system
o Advantages: no interaction with other organs, increased sensitivity + flexibility,
better interpretation and control condition, great sample capacity smaller test
substance needed
o Disadvantages: no interaction with other organs, possible property changes, difficult
extrapolation, classic cell+ tissue culture static, 2-dimensional
Audio-visual aids (for teaching)
Slaughterhouse material
Invertebrates
Human material
1
, Humans
Fertilized chicken egg
Modern techniques ((computer)model)
Reduction: lowering the number of animals used to obtain information of a given amount and
precision.
Cooperation (sharing, making better use of the animal)
Choice of animal model
Education – training
Longitudinal measurements
Ethical verification
Experimental setup (standardisation/statistics)
Refinement: decrease in the incidence or severity of procedures applied to the laboratory animals.
Animal care
Study performed by skilled persons
Analgesia, anaesthesia, euthanasia
Non-invasive procedures
Animal behaviour
3R methods are not ‘alternatives’. Strategies are very powerful in reducing animal numbers.
Animal model
A living organism in which normative biology or behaviour can be studied or a pathological process
can be investigated and in which the phenomenon resembles the same phenomenon in humans or
other species.
Selection in 8 steps:
1. Define the scientific key question
2. Decide on the key substrate
3. Determine if animals are needed
4. Determine in which animal/strain/model the key substrate is found (including the quality of
the model)
5. Consider technical points, guidelines and codes of practice
6. Consider discomfort for the animals
7. Consider practical factors (availability, accommodation, care, published info)
8. Select the animal on basis of scientific, practical and ethical considerations
Homologous: symptoms and course of the condition identical in model and human
Isomorphic: symptoms similar, cause of condition is different in model and human
Partial: the model is not showing the entire human disease
Types of models:
Spontaneous: animals develop their condition without artificial manipulation, often selective
breeding. Models often isomorphic.
Induced: display of condition as a result of artificial manipulation.
Transgenic disease: creating disease models by genetic modification. Homologous.
Negative: human disorder doesn’t develop in model. Study of resistance mechanisms.
Orphan: display condition which has never been described in humans.
2
All invasive use of an animal for experimental, educational or other purpose with known or unknown
effect, which causes similar or more pain, suffering, fear or damage to the animal than introducing a
needle according to good veterinary practice.
Art. 1a: Any right accorded by or pursuant to this act shall be exercised in recognition of the intrinsic
value of animal life.
Aiming at defining the best animal model and the best experimental procedure. Which should result
in the increase of reliability, reduction of the animals used and reduced suffering for the animals.
Experimental animal
Living vertebrate:
o After 1/3 of the gestation (dracht) a mammal is considered a living animal
o After hatching a bird/reptile/fish is considered a living animal
Shaking an egg is not an experiment when the egg isn’t hatched
o When larvae eat autonomously they are considered a living animal
Living cephalopods
Discomfort for the subject
Discomfort is cumulative, so a series below threshold may become above threshold. Birth can be
above threshold for genetic manipulated subjects.
Mild discomfort: little impact on the animal
Moderate discomfort: for example surgery with anaesthesia
Severe discomfort: prolonged suffering
Terminal: performed under anaesthesia followed by killing the animal.
Non recovery: is considered the lowest, because for an animal it feels likes falling asleep and
the experiment is conducted without consciousness.
Factors determining the level of discomfort are the severity, the frequency and the duration. The
integrity is the moral relevant part.
Waking up from anaesthesia is very invasive for an animal. Animals shouldn’t suffer needlessly so use
anaesthesia and analgesia.
Spontaneous death should be avoided as final parameter. Replace by humane endpoints.
3R’s (Replacement, Reduction, Refinement)
Replacement: any scientific method employing non-sentient material, which may replace animal
experiments.
In vitro system
o Advantages: no interaction with other organs, increased sensitivity + flexibility,
better interpretation and control condition, great sample capacity smaller test
substance needed
o Disadvantages: no interaction with other organs, possible property changes, difficult
extrapolation, classic cell+ tissue culture static, 2-dimensional
Audio-visual aids (for teaching)
Slaughterhouse material
Invertebrates
Human material
1
, Humans
Fertilized chicken egg
Modern techniques ((computer)model)
Reduction: lowering the number of animals used to obtain information of a given amount and
precision.
Cooperation (sharing, making better use of the animal)
Choice of animal model
Education – training
Longitudinal measurements
Ethical verification
Experimental setup (standardisation/statistics)
Refinement: decrease in the incidence or severity of procedures applied to the laboratory animals.
Animal care
Study performed by skilled persons
Analgesia, anaesthesia, euthanasia
Non-invasive procedures
Animal behaviour
3R methods are not ‘alternatives’. Strategies are very powerful in reducing animal numbers.
Animal model
A living organism in which normative biology or behaviour can be studied or a pathological process
can be investigated and in which the phenomenon resembles the same phenomenon in humans or
other species.
Selection in 8 steps:
1. Define the scientific key question
2. Decide on the key substrate
3. Determine if animals are needed
4. Determine in which animal/strain/model the key substrate is found (including the quality of
the model)
5. Consider technical points, guidelines and codes of practice
6. Consider discomfort for the animals
7. Consider practical factors (availability, accommodation, care, published info)
8. Select the animal on basis of scientific, practical and ethical considerations
Homologous: symptoms and course of the condition identical in model and human
Isomorphic: symptoms similar, cause of condition is different in model and human
Partial: the model is not showing the entire human disease
Types of models:
Spontaneous: animals develop their condition without artificial manipulation, often selective
breeding. Models often isomorphic.
Induced: display of condition as a result of artificial manipulation.
Transgenic disease: creating disease models by genetic modification. Homologous.
Negative: human disorder doesn’t develop in model. Study of resistance mechanisms.
Orphan: display condition which has never been described in humans.
2
