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Currently, laboratory animals (mice or rats) are used in basic as well as applied
research. Animal research includes the study of animal models to increase physiological
knowledge and identify new therapeutic targets or procedures. Furthermore, animal models
are used in the production and evaluation of therapeutic and diagnostic agents (such as
production of monoclonal antibodies, efficacy assessments of vaccines), and education (such
as training of different surgical procedures) (De Deyn and Van Dam, 2011).
The rationale for the use of animal models in biomedical research is that these
models allow the experimental study of the condition to a degree often impossible to human
subjects. Arguments regarding whether biomedical science can advance without the use of
animals are frequently mooted and makes as much sense as questioning if clinical trials are
necessary before new medical therapies are allowed to be widely used in the general
population (Chow et al., 2007). Animal models will be used in biomedical research until
science develops alternative models.
Before describing the notion of animal model we should emphasize the notion of a
model. Many authors have different opinions about the notion of model.
Analogous modelsrelate one structure or process to another and are not unique to
biomedical research. Such models are also common in physics, engineering and
mathematics. A scaled-downmodel of an airplane is not an airplane but allows appreciation
of how the various parts ofthe structure relate to one another and how improvements may
be usefully made. Similarly,large animal models like the pig allow the development of new
minimally invasive surgicaltechniques and instruments.
Homologous models reflect counterpart genetic sequences and are only used in
biomedical research. Many animal models are both analogues and true homologues.
Both invertebrate and vertebrate animals are used as models in biomedical research.
There are many vertebrate models used for biomedical research as follow:
In isomorphic models, although they display similar symptoms, the condition is not
provoked by the same events as the human condition, being limited to particular aspects.
Sometimes, researchers may seek to use animal models that specifically mimic
conditions of interests as opposite to using or developing general models. Such animal
models may either spontaneously mimic these conditions or be induced to simulate those
conditions (Chow et al., 2007).
Spontaneous animal models arise through spontaneous mutation to mimic specific
conditions. Spontaneous genetic variants have been described in mouse and rat strains such
as Gunn rat (for hereditary hyperbilirubinemia) and the BB Wistar rats (for type I diabetes).
The surgically induced model is a classical biomedical research model and was used
to understand brain function (rats, mice, nonhuman primates), develop organ
transplantation (dogs and pigs), and discover the role of insulin in diabetes (dogs) and to
develop cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (dogs).
The chemically induced models include the chemical ablation of the dopaminergic
neurons to create Parkinsonisms conditions (such as intranigral injection of 6-
hydroxydopamine, injections of lipopolysaccharide) (rats) and the use of carbon
tetrachloride to create cirrhosis (rats).
Transgenic animal models are important induced animal models. A transgenic animal
is one that carries a foreign gene that has been deliberately inserted into its genome (such as
B6;129-Psen1tm1Mpm Tg(APPSwe,tauP301L)1Lfa/Mmjax, a mouse model containing mutations
on the tau, presenilin 1 and APP gene simultaneously resulting in both tau and A pathology
in the brains).
The neuroscience community is far from reaching consensus about the level of
similarity between the brains and minds of humans and other species.
According to van der Staay (2000), animal models of behavioral dysfunction serve
two main aims:
1. first, to enhance our understanding of the underlying substrates and mechanisms,
i.e. the brain-behavior relation. This is done experimentally by, for example,
inducing dissociations between processes, subprocesses and modulating
influences, either pharmacologically or through the destruction of neural tissue
(DMello and Steckler, 1996).
2. second, to assess the effects of putative neuroprotective, antidegenerative,
revalidation supporting, and/or cognition-enhancing compounds or treatments
(Allain et al., 1997).
The use of animal models had a huge impact in medical progress. Currently, there are
several international organizations that provide information about the use of animals in
medical research as follow:
According to AnimalResearch.info (2013) there are four main reasons why animals
are used in research:
A great deal of the knowledge of the body's anatomy and functions can be traced to
scientific findings from animal research. Comparing different species and studying the
differences and similarities between them is one way to gain insights. Even simple animals
can be used to study complex biological systems such as the nervous or immune systems,
which follow the same basic organization and function in all animals. For example, much has
been learnt about the function of neurons from studying the giant squid axon. Information
from this sort of work can then be applied to higher animals and humans.
Animals which are altered to create models of disease are known as induced models.
For example, surgery which damages a particular section of the spinal cord in rats gives rise
to symptoms like those seen in human patients with similar spinal cord damage. These
animal models help researchers understand what happens in the body following this type of
damage, and have been used in the development of new therapies.
Diagnostic tools such as scanners, and implants such as heart pacemakers or artificial
hips, are safe and effective only because they were developed and tested in animals. Many
surgical techniques, such as open heart surgery and heart transplants, rely on methods and
equipment that were developed using animals.
The animal tests provide data on efficacy and safety. They not only identify potential
safety concerns, but also determine the doses which will be given to volunteers and patients
during the first human trials.
Testing on animals also serves to protect consumers, workers and the environment
from the harmful effects of chemicals. All chemicals for commercial or personal use must be
tested so that their effect on the people and animals exposed to them is understood. The
chemicals that we use day-to-day can accumulate in the water, ground or air around us, and
their potential impact on the environment must be researched thoroughly.
Consequently, AnimalResearch.info (2013) provide a list with those disease which are
now prevented or cured with the knowledge obtained by animal experimentation. The
importance of animal models in the medical progress is further exemplified by the list of
Nobel prizes awarded for Physiology and Medicine (89 Nobel prizes were directly dependent
on animal-based research).
Finally, all animal models used in biomedical research have their limitations. These
limitations are, however, an intrinsic part of all modelling approaches that use surrogates
and do not render the scientific method invalid.
In the next parts of the present thesis, I will present, starting with 2007,my personal
contributions on elucidating of behavioral and molecular mechanisms of experimental
animals behavior achieved following the PhD award in 2006.