lecture 3 from a college level research methods in psychology course taught in the spring 2012 semester by Brian J. Piper, Ph.D. (psy391@gmail.com) at Linfield College, includes IACUC, animal welfare act, refinement, reduction, replacement

1. Ethics of Animal Use in Research
and Teaching

2. Rules and Regulations
The primary
responsibility when
working with
animals is to treat
them humanely.

3. Questionable Animal Research 1:
Foot shock induced aggression
• Mild footshock to paired rats results in
fighting
• Used to study effects of hormones,
temperature, drugs.
• Justified?

4. Questionable Animal Research 2:
Parabiosis
• Surgical means to create conjoined twins
• Used for behavioral endocrinology

5. Questionable Animal Research 3:
Harry Harlow & monkey love
• Tested food versus contact comfort
• Important for adopted children
• Animal rights movement is a reaction to his
research
1905-1981 2 min: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fg9QCeA4FJs

6. AWA
Animal Welfare Act
• 1966, amended in most recently in 2007
• Regulates use of dogs, cats, hamsters, guinea pigs, rabbits,
farm animals, marine mammals, and non-human primates in
research and teaching (rats, mice, and birds are currently not
regulated, but probably will be in the near future).
• The regulations cover the procurement, handling, treatment,
and transportation of these animals.

7. rabb
i ts
guin
e
pigs a
ham
st e r
s
pigs
dogs
prim
a tes
sh e e
p
Ot h ca ts
er f a
rm a
nim
als
othe
r ve
rteb
ra te
s

9. AWA enforcement
• Enforced by the Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service of the United States
Department of Agriculture (USDA)
– Unannounced annual on-site inspections
– Inspects all facilities, relevant records, and
documentation
– Progressive series of disciplinary actions for
non-compliance, including citations, warning,
fines, court orders, loss of registration

10. IACUC
Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee
• Reviews animal use
proposals
• Conducts semi-annual
inspections of animal
facilities
• Investigates concerns
about animal care and use
• Can suspend research or
teaching activities when a
major violation has
occurred

11. IACUC membership
• A veterinarian who is certified in laboratory
animal medicine.
• At least one practicing scientist who is
experienced with research and training
involving animals.
• A least one member of the public to
represent general community interests in the
proper care and use of animals.

12. Role of IACUC
• To protect animal welfare.
• To protect the University.
• To assist in maintenance of a productive
research environment.
• To utilize peer review in evaluation of
protocols and inspection of animal
facilities.

13. Animal Care and Use Protocols
• Rationale and purpose of the proposed use
of animals.
• Justification of the need to use animals,
the species of animal chosen and the
number of animals requested.
• Adequacy of training and experience of
personnel.
• Housing and care of animals.
• Pain and distress
• Method of disposition of the animals at
the end of the study.

14. Justification and Use of Animals

15. The Three R’s
• Legislated by the AWA
• Replacement
– Substitution of other models for animals (or
substitution of a less sentient species for a more
sentient one)
• Can the hypothesis be tested or the training be done with cell
cultures, computer simulations, or other non-animal system?
• Reduction
– What is the minimum number of animals that can still
yield statistically valid outcomes?
• Can you work with a statistician to determine this?
• Refinement
– What efforts are being made to eliminate or minimize
animal pain and distress?
• Anesthesia, analgesia and alternate experimental design must

16. Societal Decision (Pros)
Benefits to Humans
• Vaccines
• Antibiotics
• Medical procedures
• Space travel
• Benefits to Animals

17. Hair Analysis
• Some rhesus monkeys exhibit self-abusive behavior (SIB)
• Cortisol, a stress hormone, levels were examined in
monkeys
Davenport et al. (2008). Biological Psychiatry, 63, 990-996.

18. Societal Decision (Cons)
• Similarity to Humans
– Chemistry
– Anatomy
– Pain?

19. • Association for the Assessment and
Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care
– This is a volunteer organization that works with research
organizations to ensure the highest standards of animal care and
use.
– They emphasize appropriate veterinary care, in-depth oversight by
IACUC, protection of the health of animals.
– Full accreditation by AAALAC considered one of the best
professional achievements in the field of lab animal care

20. Non-government Organizations
• AALAS • NABR
– American Assoc. for Lab – National Assoc for Biomedical
Animal Science Research
• AAALAC • FBR
– Association for the Assessment – Foundation for Biomedical
and Accreditation of Research
Laboratory Animal Care • ILAR
• ASLAP – Institute of Lab Animal
– American Society of Lab Resources
Animal Practitioners • AWIC
• ACLAM – Animal Welfare Info Center
– American College of Lab • ARENA
Animal Medicine – Applied Research Ethics
• SCAW National Association
– Scientists Center for Animal • CAAT
Welfare – Center for Alternatives to
• PRIMR Animal Testing
– Public Responsibility In
Medicine and Research

21. The Guide for the Care and
Use of Laboratory Animals
• Describes institutional
responsibilities for animal
care and use
• Provides guidelines for
designing and operating
an animal care program

22. Summary
• AWA (R-R-R)