实验动物科学研究进展

实验动物科学是专门研究实验动物的生物学疾病防治、遗传育种、营养、繁殖、饲养管理及应用的科学.作为一门独立的综合性基础学科,它诞生于20世纪50年代,由于其在科学技术领域的重要作用,受到了世界各国的高度重视,因此有了迅猛的发展,所涉及的领域也不局限于生物医学,而是扩展到工农业和许多其它领域,如制药、化工、轻工、食品、农药、国防等,故人们甚至把实验动物的品种、质量和数量作为衡量一个国家科学技术水平的重要标志之一.     

Inspection of laboratory animal breeding and husbandry/experiments on animals, examples

In Berlin, the authorization and inspection of experiments on animals and of facilities for laboratory animal breeding and husbandry are carried out by the same authority. According to Section 16 (1) sentence one no. 3 Tierschutzgesetz (German animal protection act), there are presently 1200 procedures registered and 68 facilities approved to breed and keep vertebrates for experiments (according to Section 11 (1) sentence one no. 1 Tierschutzgesetz). In 2006, the use of 300,903 vertebrates was reported. There are 38 animal welfare officers in the twenty major scientific facilities who are in charge of in-house supervision. The authority visits the facilities where experiments take place at regular intervals to observe and supervise their operations. On request, the facilities must send the records from the experiments to the authority for examination (according to Section 9 a Tierschutzgesetz). With the annual laboratory animal report, the authority can verify the number of authorised laboratory animals. By checking the scientific publications the authority can compare them with the authorised animal experiments. Facilities for laboratory animal breeding and husbandry are continuously supervised. Offences against the animal protection act are prosecuted. When there are deficiencies in animal welfare, the authority sets a deadline to correct the defects. If the deficiency still exists after the expiry of the term, the authority imposes a penalty payment or initiates legal proceedings. The important role of the animal welfare officers (Section 8 a Tierschutzgesetz) is apparent. The majority of supervisions show that there are deficiencies. This indicates that more emphasis must be put on prevention. The facilities must provide better support and resources for the animal welfare officers. Furthermore, the scientists must be more receptive to the animal welfare officers in their role as advisers. Continuous and adequate training is imperative to the goal of maintaining sufficient in-house supervision and to keep the animals from suffering. If in-house supervision works well, the State's role in regulating animal experiments can be reduced.     

Aspects of animal welfare in livestock production

The modern consumer is increasingly concerned about the welfare of farm animals which are kept in intensive systems on specialised farms where the health and well-being is almost completely dependent on the will, ability and care of the farmer. Further demands related to animal production are consumer health (quality and safety of food products), the protection of the environment and cheap food. The currently used husbandry systems are man made and emphasise automation which requires permanent critical observation of the welfare of the animals. Ethological indicators are equally important as health and performance to evaluate keeping systems. Future animal farming will be influenced by new technologies such as electronic animal identification and milking robots, and more important by biotechnology and genome analysis. Veterinary surgeons and farmers have to co-operate on the basis of scientifically sound animal welfare schemes which help to protect our farm animals in modern and intensive livestock production systems.     

Establishing a laboratory animal model from a transgenic animal: RasH2 mice as a model for carcinogenicity studies in regulatory science

Transgenic animal models have been used in small numbers in gene function studies in vivo for a period of time, but more recently, the use of a single transgenic animal model has been approved as a second species, 6-month alternative (to the routine 2-year, 2-animal model) used in short-term carcinogenicity studies for generating regulatory application data of new drugs. This article addresses many of the issues associated with the creation and use of one of these transgenic models, the rasH2 mouse, for regulatory science. The discussion includes strategies for mass producing mice with the same stable phenotype, including constructing the transgene, choosing a founder mouse, and controlling both the transgene and background genes; strategies for developing the model for regulatory science, including measurements of carcinogen susceptibility, stability of a large-scale production system, and monitoring for uniform carcinogenicity responses; and finally, efficient use of the transgenic animal model on study. Approximately 20% of mouse carcinogenicity studies for new drug applications in the United States currently use transgenic models, typically the rasH2 mouse. The rasH2 mouse could contribute to animal welfare by reducing the numbers of animals used as well as reducing the cost of carcinogenicity studies. A better understanding of the advantages and disadvantages of the transgenic rasH2 mouse will result in greater and more efficient use of this animal model in the future.     

Veterinary ophthalmology in laboratory animal studies

In this overview the current status of the role of veterinary ophthalmology in laboratory animal studies is discussed. Attention is devoted to current regulatory requirements and study construction, examination techniques commonly used in studies, and a consideration of species characteristics that may be important to investigators. Methods for recording data are discussed with examples of recording systems.     

浅谈实验动物福利问题

动物福利问题形式多样,涉及科学进步和社会发展的多个层次。本文简要阐述了动物福利的由来、国内外动物福利情况、动物福利的3R理论及动物福利发展的必然趋势。     

SPF实验动物饲料的灭菌

SPF(Specific pathogen free)实验动物,即无特定病原菌动物。我国现行的《中华人民共和国兽用生物制品质量标准》和《中华人民共和国兽用生物制品规程》中明确规定:二、三级(SPF级)实验动物须使用灭菌饲料。本文介绍了常用的60Co辐照灭菌、高温高压蒸汽灭菌、微波灭菌,饲料加工     

新的地平线——动物微生态科学与技术

现代微生物技术是一体化综合解决动物疫病、食品安全、饲料原料短缺和环境污染问题的重要方法之一,在动物营养与健康等方面能够解决生产上诸多紧迫和重要的问题,表现在对饲料利用效率的改善、动物生长性能和健康水平提高,动物生活环境乃至整个养殖环境得到改善,在生产应用中逐渐获得饲料业和养殖业者的广泛认可。智荟生物提倡让饲料活起来的理念,致力于高效芽孢杆菌等系列微生态制剂产品研发和生产,同时将饲料原料发酵技术应用到饲料厂和养殖场。智荟生物将联合众多国内外专家,与《饲料工业》携手打造微生态制剂专栏,希望把微生态领域的理论、技术信息、研究成果、研发进展向行业汇报,共同探讨,推进微生态领域的健康发展。并且,特约中国农业大学张日俊教授做开篇序言。     

Centennial paper: Proteomics in animal science

Proteomics holds significant promise as a method for advancing animal science research. The use of this technology in animal science is still in its infancy. The ability of proteomics to simultaneously identify and quantify potentially thousands of proteins is unparalleled. In this review, we will discuss basic principles of doing a proteomic experiment. In addition, challenges and limitations of proteomics will be considered, stressing those that are unique to animal sciences. The current proteomic research in animal sciences will be discussed, and the potential uses for this technology will be highlighted.