The dark side of the animal experiments

Abstract

The use of animals in research has increasingly continued, although there are serious concerns about appropriate methodology, moral issues and translation to clinical practice. The aim of the present article is to review the insufficiency of statements in ethical approvals to obtain animal welfare in real life practices and to draw attention to the need for an additional evidence-based audit system. In many countries, local Animal Ethics Committees are established to ensure that animals are treated in accordance with 3Rs (Replace, Reduce, Refine) principles. Although the ethical approval certificate which is taken before the start of research is considered as the proof of animal welfare, footages released from all over the world reveal the maltreatment. However, due to the scientific resource provided by animal models, it does not seem possible to expect animal experiments to be terminated in the near future. Addition of previously suggested welfare section to methods of study or including the ethical approval certificate does not seem to be sufficient practices to guarantee the animal welfare, since they are not based on audited evidence. The welfare certificate, in which the welfare is supervised by independent auditors, would serve as a proof of both the wellbeing of subjects and consequently the scientific reliability of data. Application of review and publication priority for the animal researches which have the welfare certificate in addition to the ethical approval would encourage the researchers to obtain this certificate. The achievement of worldwide consensus about content, requirements, and application methods of the welfare certificate should be in the scope of scientists in the near future to reach the more humane and more qualified animal experiments.

The effects of cephalexin on fracture healing in a rat femur fracture model

“…[ 17 , 18 , 20 ] To keep the number of animals to a minimum from an ethical point of view, it is critical to make a detailed evaluation of the current results as much as possible to increase the reliability of the results. [ 21 ] Therefore, we practiced the histopathology, histomorphometry, immunohistochemistry, microCT, and biomechanical analysis in the present study. Although there are studies on the use of cephalosporins such as cefazolin and cefuroxime in orthopedic studies in the literature,[ 18 , 22 ] to the best our knowledge, this study is the first in which all of all detailed examination methods used in a rat femur fracture model to examine the effects of cephalexin.…”

Refinement of Animal Experiments: Replacing Traumatic Methods of Laboratory Animal Marking with Non-Invasive Alternatives

“…Perception of animals as just objects: In some cases, laboratory rodents are perceived only as tools to achieve a scientific goal without prioritizing their welfare [37]. In such cases, the implementation of high ethical standards may be lacking.…”