1. VL - Einführung

Question 1

Who recognized the benefits of experimenting on model organisms?

Answer 1

August Krogh (1874-1949), he did experiments with blood perfusion in muscle

Question 2

Some model organisms (4 examples)

Answer 2

Sea urchins and amphibians, Chick embryos, mouse, Zebrafish

Question 3

Why sea urchins and amphibians?

Answer 3

could be obtained easily, amphibian embryos are large and allow easy experimental manipulations.
disadvantage: Xenopus laevis is tetraploid and has a two-year generation time which makes genetics difficult.

Question 4

Why chicken embryos?

Answer 4

can be cultured outside of the egg and are resistent to experimental manipulations.
disadvantage: developmental genetics is difficult.

Question 5

Why mouse?

Answer 5

has excellent genetics (including knockout and transgenesis methods) and is evolutionarily closer to humans.
disadvantage: the uterine mode of development has made it difficult to analyze early development. Now it has become possible to culture embryos for some time outside of the uterus.

Question 6

Why zebrafish?

Answer 6

easy to breed and has a transparent and extra-uterine mode of development. This model has excellent genetic tools available.
disadvantage: part of its genome has been duplicated which may hamper the analysis of some gene function.

Question 7

Percentage of animals, used for research?

Answer 7

0,39%

Question 8

Arguments for animal in research?

Answer 8

Cell culture systems are homogeneous and the crosstalk between different cell types, tissues, and organs is missing
Cell culture systems are slightly “artificial” and allow only limited insights into diverse life processes
Analyzing cancer for instance requires studying the interaction of cancer cells with neighboring cells and tissues…

Question 9

“Three Rs Principles for Alternative Methods” - what does the three “R” stands for?

Answer 9

Reduce, Replace, Refine

Question 10

What disease was researched with the help of animals?

Answer 10

an immunization therapy against diphtheria, discovery of insulin, discovery of papilloma virus, heart shock therapies…

Question 11

Vertebrales can not only feel pain but can suffer subjectively. What do you have to think about before granting approval of an animal experiment?

Answer 11

• duration of the experiment
• frequency of the procedures
• intensity, duration and frequency of pain
• influence on natural behaviour

Question 12

Focused on animal research: between which 2 rights is there a conflict?

Answer 12

Article 5 [Freedom of expression, arts and sciences] and Article 20a [Protection of the natural foundations of life and animals]

Question 13

Approval required for…

Answer 13

• vertebrates
• cephalopods (e.g. octopuses)
• decapodes (e.g. lobsters)

Question 14

Animal experiments – approval process

Review on three levels:

Answer 14

1. Project-related
2. Person-related
3. Facility-related (Zahl der Tierpfleger, wie Räumlichkeiten für das Tier)

Question 15

Operations allowed for…

Answer 15

University degree
• medicine (veterinarians, physicians, dentists)
• natural sciences

Question 16

Operations NOT allowed….

Answer 16

Professional qualification

laboratory animalkeepers and special trained biological technicians

Question 17

What have to be monitored?

Answer 17

Documentation
Monitoring
• Number of animals
• Species
• Procedures
• Experimentator
In case of dogs, cats, and primates:
• Gender
• Anymarkings
• Documentation of the animal’s life from birth to experiment,
and beyond
• Animalwelfareofficer
➡independent and supported by the animal welfare
committee