Alternatives in Education—Rat and Mouse Simulators Evaluated from Course Trainers’ and Supervisors’ Perspective

Abstract

Simulators allow the inexperienced to practice their skills prior to exercise on live animals. Therefore, they bear great potential in overcoming the dilemma between the present demand for high-quality practical training involving live animals whilst implementing the 3R principle according to the Directive 2010/63/EU. Currently, one mouse and six rat simulators are commercially available. As data on their impact are lacking, this project aimed at providing an overview of the awareness, implementation, and methodical and practical satisfaction provided by 35 course trainers and supervisors of laboratory animal training courses for mice and rats regarding the simulators available. Although simulators facilitate training of relevant techniques and relatively high awareness of them seemed to be present, their implementation is currently very low, possibly due to lack of meeting the respondents’ demands. Thus, this study revealed the overall approval of simulator training and general demand for user-optimized, realistic, and financially affordable simulators and, hence, indicates a strong impulse for new developments strengthening the 3Rs as a benefit to all animals used in research.

Anatomical Evaluation of Rat and Mouse Simulators for Laboratory Animal Science Courses

“…With this in mind, a collaborative research project named "SimulRATor" was initiated, in which a team of anatomists, lab-oratory animal scientists, an epidemiologist and a medical engineer were assembled to systematically evaluate existing rat and mouse simulators. The evaluation consisted of three subprojects: (1) A user-oriented online survey for course trainers, to determine the level of awareness as well as implementation, satisfaction and requirements for simulators used in LAS courses [17]; (2) An anatomical evaluation of currently available simulators for rat and mouse and; (3) A tutored simulator training with participants of LAS courses, in which their learning success with the currently available simulators and their demands and requirements for future simulators was assessed. The results of the three subprojects will eventually be analyzed and serve as the basis for the construction development of a new costeffective 3D-printed rat simulator with realistic anatomy and haptics (the perception of objects by touch and proprioception).…”

Alternatives in Education—Evaluation of Rat Simulators in Laboratory Animal Training Courses from Participants’ Perspective

“…Most of these courses focus on mice and rats [ 9 , 10 ] which are the most commonly used species for animal experiments [ 11 , 12 ] and include exercises on live animals, in order to provide the necessary manual skill acquisition required prior to conducting experiments. As the use of animals for educational purposes is itself legally classified as an animal experiment due to the potential pain, suffering, distress, or lasting harm imposed on the animals used [ 4 ], a 3R dilemma in LAS education and training emerged, as stated in our previous study [ 13 ]. While the use of live animals in education and training is still indispensable since non-animal alternatives cannot entirely fulfil the mandatory high standard of education and training, animals used for educational purposes require the same 3R principle and protection as do animals used for other experimental purposes.…”

“…Although many alternatives have been established [ 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 ] to reduce or replace live mice and rats, e.g., in theoretical education [ 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 ] or practice of dissection [ 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 ] and suturing [ 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 ], according to our previous study, however, resources for practical training of handling and routine procedural techniques seem to be limited [ 13 ]. Beside toys, do-it-yourself-interventions [ 13 , 37 ] may also be applied. More advanced resources include rabbit silicon ears [ 38 ] and, perhaps the most advanced applications, five rat and one mouse simulator [ 39 , 40 , 41 , 42 , 43 , 44 ].…”

“…More advanced resources include rabbit silicon ears [ 38 ] and, perhaps the most advanced applications, five rat and one mouse simulator [ 39 , 40 , 41 , 42 , 43 , 44 ]. These simulators may potentially solve the dilemma of education and training regarding mice and rats as they aim to mimic the target species in size and anatomy and are designed to cover the most relevant techniques for LAS courses [ 13 ]. In spite of their unique market position as an alternative training resource for practical training on mice and rats, almost no data seems to be available on them to the authors’ knowledge.…”

“…However, our previous study was the only one that seems to have dealt with a focused analysis on the implementation and satisfaction with current simulators for LAS courses. This study, based on a survey among LAS course trainers and supervisors, revealed a rather poor simulator implementation and methodological assessment [ 13 ].…”