Evaluation of COX-2 Inhibitor Injurious Effects on Proximal Convoluted Tubular Diameter of Kidney with Favorable Impact of Lycopene in Albino Rats on the Basis of Microscopic Features

Objective: To analyze the harmful effect of COX-2 inhibitor on proximal convoluted tubular diameter of kidney, amendment by lycopene. Research Design: Experimental Research. Abode of Research: Animal House, JPMC, Karachi. Materials and Methods: 90-120 days old, forty healthy adult male Albino rats of 200-220gm weight were taken for this study and distributed into 4 cliques, set 1was chosen as control, in Set 2 Celecoxib was given 0.05g/1000g by gavage, in set 3 Celecoxib was given0.05g/1000g by gavage with lycopene 0.05g/1000g by gavage and set4 lycopene was given0.05g/1000g by gavage for 30 days. At accomplishment of study, animals were sacrifice and tissues were preserved for staining. Results: Inset 2 proximal convoluted tubular diameter became distended due to apoptosis of lining epithelial cells. They turn into low cuboidal from simple cuboidal cells along with ill-defined brush border at the luminal surface due to scarce microvilli and had disrupted basement membrane, however renal structure were amended in set3 which were given celecoxib with lycopene. Conclusion: This study reveals that lycopene amended the apoptotic changes of set2.

Improved Training and Semen Collection Outcomes Using the Closed Box Chair for Macaques

Collaborative semen collection in monkeys is a valuable tool in research, animal collection management, and conservation efforts. To obtain samples, monkeys are often restrained in open restraint chairs (ORC) with the “pole and collar” technique. While commonly used, this restraint is not tolerated by all individuals; some become anxious or aggressive towards the poles and people. In an effort to refine this procedure and improve welfare of the monkeys, we examined the use of a “closed box chair” (CBC), a clear, plexiglass box in which the monkey is trained to sit for sperm collection. The CBC does not require pole and collar, and although legs are secured, the arms and neck are not restrained. The use of CBCs has increased in recent years; however, there are few studies demonstrating its effects on scientific outcomes. We used positive reinforcement techniques to train 34 adult male rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) to provide semen samples using either the ORC or the CBC. While all CBC monkeys (n = 14) were reliably trained for this procedure, only 75% of ORC (n = 20) males completed the training (p = 0.04). It took significantly less time to train animals in the CBC than the ORC (201.0 vs. 412.4 min; p <0.001). In a controlled subset, males restrained with ORC (n = 7) produced a significantly lower ejaculatory volume than those collected by CBC (n = 10) (297.6 µL vs 522.1 µL respectively; p = 0.04) and had a lower concentration of sperm (186.0 × 106/mL vs 367.5 × 106/mL respectively; p = 0.017), although there were no differences with respect to sperm motility (p = 0.15). Our data suggest the closed box chair technique reduces stress on the animals while enhancing semen quality, supporting the use of the CBC as an important refinement.

Moving Beyond the Absence of Pain and Distress: Focusing on Positive Animal Welfare

For many years, researchers, veterinarians, animal ethics committees, and regulators have focused on minimizing pain and distress as a primary goal of refinement when working with animals in science. More recent publications as well as a shift in animal ethics and public opinion have emphasized promotion of positive affective states, culminating in the concept of positive animal welfare. Robust measures are required to know when positive animal welfare states are occurring, and a number of measures are proposed and discussed. Regardless of whether there are newer methods available that focus exclusively on measuring positive affective states, consistent consideration of research animal behavioral programs, refinement, and adopting periodic stand-alone animal welfare assessments for all species involved will help to push the care and practices of research animals towards an increased focus on positive animal welfare.

Unexpected effects of ivermectin and selamectin on inducible CreER activity in mice

Background Anti-parasitics are frequently used in research animal facilities to treat a multitude of common infections, with pinworms and fur mites being amongst the most common. Ivermectin and selamectin are common oral and topical treatments for these infections, respectively. Although commonly thought to be innocuous to both the research animals and any transgenic elements that the animals may carry, evidence exists that ivermectin is capable of activating the recombinase activity of at least one CreER. The goal of the current study was to determine if there was an effect of either anti-parasitic agent on the activity of CreER proteins in transgenic mice. Case presentation We analyzed the offspring of transgenic mice exposed to either ivermectin or selamectin during pregnancy and nursing. Through analysis of reporter genes co-expressed with multiple, independently generated transgenic CreER drivers, we report here that ivermectin and selamectin both alter recombinase activity and thus may have unintended consequences on gene inactivation studies in mice. Conclusions Although the mechanisms by which ivermectin and selamectin affect CreER activity in the offspring of treated dams remain unclear, the implications are important nonetheless. Treatment of pregnant transgenic mice with these anti-parasitics has the potential to alter transgene activity in the offspring. Special considerations should be made when planning treatment of transgenic mice with either of these pharmacologics.