| CHAPTER Use of Animals in Biomedical Research: Introduction Monica Levy Andersen umankind is, at the beginning of this millennium, in possession of a trove of scien tific and technological achievements that until recently were deemed unimagin- able. The multiple and profound consequences information technology has had on the scientific community and our own personal lives is remarkable. Due in part to what we now know about DNA and the entire genetic apparatus, we have seen great advances in molecular biology. Much of the developments in the field of biomedicine can be attrib- uted to the use of laboratory animals. Because of these animals we have been able to improve the well-being of our own species. The close interaction between biomedical research and the use of laboratory animals occurs mainly because of the scientific knowledge we have of such animals, and the re~ search creates this knowledge as well. The development of genetically well-defined strains of species that possess specific characteristics is particularly useful in the investigation of certain pathologies or physiological phenomena. What we have learned enables us to make better use of these animals and optimizes the work conducted by researchers, since results depend on a host of variables including how healthy the animals are, their care and handling, and their behavior. The well-being of laboratory animals must be a con- stant concern, and it is essential that those who make use of them be adequately trained. Every ethical and conscientious society should be concerned with the way they handle any live species. Those who work with animals for experimentation should appreciate and value animal life and be responsible for their well-being. They should also consider these animals as sensitive beings whose suffering should be minimized, Clinical trials and research performed on animals should be conducted in ways that minimize pain, distress, and discomfort.CHAPTER 1 ‘The use of animals for experimentation must be justified. There must be a reasonable immediate or attainable benefit for mankind or for the species itself. Some criteria must be met as well: Humane treatment and protection should be dispensed to the animals, which means, in addition to minimizing pain, suffering, and discomfort, that only the necessary number of animals be used. The legislation in effect should protect not only the animals for experimentation but also those who work with them. According to the “Guidelines for Ethical Conduct in the Care and Use of Animals,” research should have the following objectives: a) To broaden the knowledge of the processes involved in the investigation, as well as to pursue better comprehension of the workings of each species. b To determine whether a previous study can be reproduced. ©) Supply results that benefit the health of humans or of other animals. Carrying out research is not an easy task to complete, even more so when experimenta- tion with animals is involved. Not only must the researcher master the technical aspects of the procedures, but also he or she must adhere to rigorous, self-imposed, ethical behavior, without which scientists would inevitably perpetrate irreparable damage. Each researcher must be aware of the etiology and biology of the species chosen for a given study and must be aware of the influence that his or her work and conclusions will have in the scientific community. The researcher must know that the information he or she gathered shall be used by many and that the information may help or harm people. Itis therefore essential that the researcher be rigorously correct in each step of his or her work. The ethical differences that arise when one resorts to animals for experimentation lie in the conflict between the justification of benefit for human society and the desire not to cause pain and suffering to animals, Ethical experimentation is defined as being directly beneficial to human and animal life, or, if not directly beneficial, then the research should significantly add to the understanding of the physiology and behavior of living beings. ‘The past 20 years have seen much debate over the validity of the use of animals for biomedical experimentation. ‘The pros and cons against animal experimentation have been amply debated (Figure 1). Opinions diverge greatly among animal protection orga- nizations, governmental agencies, and industries that make use of animals to test the reliability and efficacy of their products. In the course of these discussions, we must not forget that the use of animals in biomedical research is a privilege that must be carefully safeguarded so as to ensure the possibility that science will rid man and animals alike of their ailments. To ignore suffering of man and animals would be an irresponsible atti- tude. The vast majority of the advances in medical sciences can be attributable to the use of animals for experimentation,USE OF ANINALS IN BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH: INFRODUCTION FIGURE 1 ~ Manifestato against the use of animals for experimentation (source: Foundation for Bio: ‘medical Research). According to the Nuremberg Code, established after the atrocities of World War II, all experimentation with humans “should be planned and based on results obtained from animal experimentation”. The Nazis did not develop their experiments on animals. Rather, they made use of Jews and other minorities in a marginal fashion. The Helsinki Declara- tion, adopted in 1964 by the 18 World Medical Assembly and later revised in 1975, also emphasizes that medical research in human beings should be based on experiments us- ing animals. Despite the limitations the animal model faces when applications in humans are con- sidered, it is still the best analogy researchers can find. Still, no theory can be demon- strated or refuted through mere analogy. Even though the animal model of disease is not identical to that of a human being, one must bear in mind that it was designed taking that fact into account. The animal model serves its purpose by offering grounds to inves tigate the applicability of a given procedure. Cystic fibrosis in mice does not mimic the condition encountered in humans, but it does offer insight as to what therapy would be satisfactory to improve a patient's health. Man's curiosity has led him to pursue comprehension of the world surrounding him, which includes animals and plants. Rudimentary science gave way to objective, orga- nized, empirical knowledge that we call scientific knowledge. Scientific discovery must tread the right paths and adopt the proper methodology. With time, as scientific data is amassed, the methodologies applied to obtain them must also adapt to the new chal- lenges that arise along the way.Its the animals you dont see ‘that realhyhelpadther tecoversuonensoaut yeqp ur paidope sem japour eye to Apaeay, spuadap eusurousyd urea Jo Ar9A09sip [nyssa20ns auf “uoseas stip Yog “FoyLoUe Uy Le sonads uaa e ur x9jduroo arour aq we euaumouayd auios ‘sBujaq Supt SuoUry “suo jeonuoyp pur poistyd arp weap ayeounut asour are euawouayd jeorBoyorg ‘Je39U28 Uy -sysoa yeausutiadxo ayp surejdxo yewp poresoqeja aq asnut sisouppoday matte pure pardao ->e a28u0} ow st 11 ‘9stms4F0 {payesoqo1I09 aze eIeP [eruaUNTIadxe ayp arya paidasoe st sisoquody &‘spuom s94p0 Uy “Toa1K09 pautaap ynsax [eusULiadxa soy. dure Aq parip -pnuoo you ae Aayg se yonuiseur piqea se paydaoze aq deur ypseasas Jo pury S| Jo syfnsex 24 yosuty Uru op sasnata woy a8ueI spout yeaxFojorg ‘ffenaICaY,“aIeBASAAU OF soysim au0 eyat uo Supuadap ‘aimypno svIN|J29 10 angst 10 sueBr0 payejost se yPNs Way jo sured 10 sSur9q aay] Jo sjapow peorfojorg osye axe azay{y, “euawouayd [eID0s UaAe puE qearSojorg ‘Teoray> ‘Teorsyd Surquosop UoyM eaHeUIDYFEUE aq OSE UD sfapoyy ‘SaIM -onuis 21uso> pur ‘e|Mo9]OU ‘SHUO}e Jo suONeIdap pue ‘sasepe eaUOeUE SBuKeIp se ypns suomeuasoudor a1ydesd 10 adAiorord v jo woronaysio> ap ayy ‘[e>1skyd aq we> sjpoyy sisoypod.y e yo Sumsay pur erep Jo aouarazur se [jam sv poorsiapun Jaq 1 2yeUE 07 sisdjeue Jo uonnooxa ay ZO} SMOTTE Ie pure parendyerews aq we rey Anpeas o4ads v Jo uoneyuasoadas v st jopow Vy “sjapour Butsn Aq wyBnos are sramsutE “Youeaser Uy Nouoadowtnt :HOMVASAM TVOIGANOIA NI STNINY 40 482