Publikationsdatenbank

Tierversuche in der Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf 1972 bis 1992 (1997)

Art

Hochschulschrift

Autor

Nefen, Stefan

Quelle

Berlin, 1997 — 146 Seiten

Kontakt

Institut für Tierschutz, Tierverhalten und Versuchstierkunde

Königsweg 67
14163 Berlin
+49 30 838 61146
tierschutz@vetmed.fu-berlin.de

Abstract / Zusammenfassung

Starting in 1972, the animal testing facility at the university of D?sseldorf collected diversedata on experimental studies involving animals. These data included information on the kind andthe number of animals, which were used in experiments, or kept in the facility. In additioninformation about animal use and topics of the involved institutes were archived. Parallel toinformation on the use of animals, data concerning the working organisation was obtained. Theseinclude information on the number of staff and its development, animal sources, animal breeding,and the medical attention.On the basis of these data, it is possible to give a summarising retrospective view on thedevelopment of animal use in scientific work at the university of D?sseldorf in between 1972 and1992. At first, the overall animal use is shown, where a short, intended decrease in the animalnumber over the years 1972 to 1974 is seen, followed by a continuous increase until the year1979. After the central animal laboratory was ready to be used (1979) a sharp increase in animaluse is seen. This can be explained by the better working conditions leading to increased animaltesting. After a further small increase until the year 1985, a continuous decrease in animal use seton in the year 1986. Secondly, animal numbers per species are shown and compared. It is seen,that in many cases the development of animal numbers used, differ considerably between species.Whereas monkey, dog, cat, guinea pig and hamster lose importance, the number of rats and pigsused, increases. Rabbit, mouse, hen, duck, pigeon and frog stay on the same level over the years.The species cow, sheep, goat and gerbil are used so infrequently, that they cannot be consideredin the analysis.Beside he presentation of the animal numbers for the whole medical faculty, the animal numbersfor the different departments are listed. Therefor, all institutes and clinics were classified intogroups, according to their specialityThe number of animals used is presented for the observed time, as well as the influence ofdifferent events on the development of these numbers. This development is influenced by: themoving into the building of institute group II in the year 1974, the moving into the central animallaboratory in the year 1978, the closure of the animal facility in the clinical area, and theintroduction of the new animal protection law on 01.01.1987. The participation in animal use of thedifferent departments is diverse and lies in between 62 and 56.568 animals. The biggest part isclaimed by the pre-clinical faculties, which include physiology, physiological chemistry,pharmacology, toxicology and genetics. The clinical departments use considerably lessanimals for testing.The conducted experimental projects can be divided on he basis of the animal protection law intoanimal tests which have to be approved, animal tests which have to be reported, and animal usewhich neither has to be approved, nor reported. The development of numbers of approved orreported animal tests is presented and the influence of the new animal protection law described. Astable reduction in approved animal tests, cannot to be confirmed. The most frequently usedanimal species are: rat, rabbit, mouse and dog. As far as the participation of the differentdepartments in approved animal testing is concerned, o difference between the pre-clinical andthe clinical medicine is seen. An evaluation of the reported animal testing and the animal use (notto be reported), with regard to the influence of the new animal protection law could not be made,as these data are only available from the year 1987 on.The scientific studies conducted by the university employees for obtaining their thesis orhabilitation, were classified in experiments which use animals and experiments which do not. Thenumbers of animals used were analysed and a comparison was made between the differentfaculties. It is striking that in both the experimental and the clinical medicine faculties, habilitationswith high and low animal use are seen. The animal species which are used most frequently inhabilitations are rat, dog and rabbit, whereas rat, mouse and dog are used most frequently fortheses.The development of animal use was also influenced by the recruitment of a veterinarian as head ofthe animal testing facility on a full-time basis in the year 1971. As a result of better hygiene, animalaccommodation and animal breeding, the quality of the experimental animals improved. This led toa decrease in animal loss during testing and consequently to a decrease in animal use. Due to aspecial training programm for the technical staff, a better understanding of animals needs wasachieved, resulting in better animal care. Scientists, dealing with animal experiments, aresupported by the competent assistance and advice of the scientific staff of the animal facility interms of planning and performing the animal experiments. The listed improvement measures takenby the competent management of the facility led to increased efficiency and success of animalexperiments.