Rumo à regulamentação da utilização de animais no ensino e na pesquisa científica no Brasil

[The characterization of the use of animals in teaching from the perception of students of biological and health sciences]

Animals are used for various purposes in the scientific realm and their use in teaching is highlighted in this research. Seeking to understand this use better, a questionnaire was administered to 427 students of medicine, pharmacy and biological sciences of Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul federal universities. Data was gathered revealing high rates of feelings of discomfort, and the predominant interest in supporting the substitution of animals in the teaching environment. The conclusion reached is that the use of animals for teaching purposes has the ability to generate strong conflict, especially when the perception of animal suffering is identified by the students. Finally, three types of use of animals in the context of teaching are proposed.

A survey of knowledge of the three Rs concept among lecturers and postgraduate students in Brazil

The use of animals in science is a widespread practice, despite growing concern about its moral justification and scientific relevance. In this scenario, the Three Rs concept might be considered to be a motivation for the establishment of a new scientific approach to the use of experimental animals and to research itself. The main objective of this survey-based study was to identify the level of knowledge about this concept among lecturers (i.e. tenure-track professors) and postgraduate students in the physiological and pharmaceutical sciences in Brazilian universities. A questionnaire was completed by 185 lecturers from 16 universities, and 140 postgraduate students from five of these universities. The results indicate that the concept of the Three Rs is widespread among lecturers and students in the areas of physiology and pharmacology, throughout Brazilian universities, but that its interpretation generally attributes more importance to refinement than to reduction and replacement.

Effect of the period of extrinsic mechanical compression following sclerotherapy in veins in rabbit ears

PURPOSE: Research whether a post-sclerotherapy venous compression period of up to 120 hours is sufficient to avoid reperfusion in treated veins; whether there is a relationship between the inflammatory intensity in venous walls and adjacent tissue and the size of venous thrombosis; whether the intensity of the post-sclerotherapy inflammation varies with the period of compression; whether there is a relationship between the presence of hemosiderin in the tissues adjacent to the sclerosing blood vessels and venous blood clots. METHODS: Twenty eight rabbits, all male, were utilized, distributed into four groups (0, 24, 72 and 120). All the animals were administered with 0.25 ml of 1% polidoconal solution and, as a control, 0.25 ml of 0.9% sodium chloride solution in the marginal dorsal vein of the right and left ears, respectively. Mechanical compression was applied to the perfused stretch of the vein, except for the animals in group 0. The period of compression varied from 0 to 120 hours in the groups. An anatomopathological examination of the section of the right and left marginal dorsal veins of all the animals was conducted. RESULTS: There was no significant difference among the various compression periods, both in terms of the degree of vein thrombosis and in the inflammatory intensity in both ears of the various groups. A positive and significant correlation was observed between the inflammatory intensity and the size of the thrombus and in the occurrence of thrombi and hemosiderin. CONCLUSIONS: A compression period of up to 120 hours is not sufficient to prevent reperfusion in sclerosing blood vessels. The intensity of tissue inflammation is related to the size of the thrombus, but not to the compression period. The presence of hemosiderin in the tissues adjacent to the vessels subjected to sclerosis is related to the presence of venous coagulation.

Animal experimentation and scientific knowledge: a thought style?

Animal experimentation, besides a research method extensively applied in the production of scientific knowledge, is also considered essential to science and with undeniable historical relevance in advances in human health. In this survey, a questionnaire was applied to a group of researchers involved with research based on non-animal models (n =18), and to another group involved with research based on animal models (n =18). The data analysis was grounded in Ludwik Fleck (1896 -1961) epistemological assumptions. The results suggested that there are at least two thought styles operating in consonance on the same research problem (advances in human health conditions) with significantly different conceptions not only concerning the research practices involved, but also the historical conceptions related to the role of animal experimentation.

Device for craniocervical isolation in rabbits

PURPOSE

To evaluate the craniocervical isolation collar, for use in rabbits, with regard to the following aspects: effectiveness of the craniocervical attachment for up to 120 hours; ease of handling; freedom of the animal to move about and ingest food; and the physical integrity of the animal during and after use of the device.

METHODS

Starting from an Elizabethan collar, a craniocervical collar was prepared for use in rabbits with the following modifications: a wide cut in the device in the shape of a half-moon, coinciding with the animal's mouth; inner division of the device into two compartments to individually isolate and immobilize the ears; multiple perforations in the upper compartment for better ventilation; adaptation of the cervical-thoracic band to attach the collar to the cervical region, keeping the fasteners on the animal's back. The device was used on 18 male New Zealand rabbits for up to 120 consecutive hours.

RESULTS

The device was effective in the craniocervical isolation and separation of ears in rabbits without interfering with the animals' respiration, ability to swallow food, or causing physical trauma, while allowing the animals to move about freely and rest comfortably. Attaching and removing the device was easy and quick and it remained in place for up to 120 hours without the need to reposition it.

CONCLUSION

The modified craniocervical isolation collar made it possible to conduct the experiment with isolation of the rabbits' ears, ease of handling, and without causing limitations in relation to the animals' ability to eat and move about freely.

Experimentação animal: ética e legislação brasileira

Este artigo trata da experimentação animal sob os pontos de vista da ética e da política, fazendo uma abordagem histórica do tema no cenário legislativo brasileiro. Os animais de laboratório desempenharam um papel decisivo para o desenvolvimento da ciência e continuam tendo um papel essencial na pesquisa biomédica, no entanto, sua utilização sempre despertou manifestação de diferentes naturezas. Apesar de as primeiras incursões na pesquisa experimental terem sido iniciadas há, pelo menos, quatro séculos, é incipiente o estabelecimento de normas que regulamentem a utilização de animais na América Latina. No Brasil, embora não haja uma lei específica em relação a essa utilização, algumas iniciativas já foram tomadas. As discussões sobre este tema continuam ocorrendo, contudo, a demora para definir uma lei que regulamente o uso de animais em pesquisa tem dificultado a padronização de procedimentos necessários à sistematização dos conhecimentos desenvolvidos no País.

Role of L-glutamine and glycine supplementation on irradiated colonic wall

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Radiotherapy is frequently used for cancer treatment, but it may be associated with several complications. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the role of L-glutamine and/or glycine supplementation on the colonic wall in rats submitted to abdominal radiation.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Sixty adult Wistar rats were randomly divided into six groups: I-healthy, II (control)-irradiated rats without amino acid supplementation, III-irradiated rats with glycine supplementation, IV-irradiated rats with L-glutamine supplementation, V-irradiated rats with glycine supplementation 7 days before irradiation and with L-glutamine supplementation 7 days after irradiation, and VI-irradiated rats with L-glutamine supplementation 7 days before irradiation and with glycine supplementation 7 days after irradiation. Abdominal irradiation was employed with a dose of 1,000 cGy on the eighth day of the experiment. All animals underwent laparotomy on the 15th day for resection of a colonic segment for stereologic analysis. Parametric and nonparametric tests were used for statistical analysis, with the level of significance set at p<or=0.05.

RESULTS

Control animals (group II) presented a significantly smaller total volume of colonic wall when compared to animals of groups I, III, IV, V, and VI. There was a significant increase in mucosal layer volume in the animals of group IV compared to animals of groups I, II, and III.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest that L-glutamine and/or glycine supplementation is beneficial for the repair of the colonic wall of rats, but L-glutamine, with its trophic effects on the colonic mucosa, seems to exhibit better results.