INTRODUCTION TO LABORATORY ANIMAL SCIENCE

LEARNING OUTCOMES

Aims and Scope
● The knowledge field of laboratory animals, understanding their correct use in order to derive reliable scientific in vivo experimental conclusions and at the same time ensuring the welfare of laboratory animals in line with European and Greek legislation.
●The ethical issues arising from human-animal interaction, used for scientific purposes, are also analyzed.
● The 3R principle (replacement, reduction and refinement of living conditions) as well as alternative experimental models are presented.
●The biology (anatomy, physiology, nutrition, reproduction) of the most commonly usedspecies as well as genetic typing and trans genesis of laboratory animals.
●The housing and breeding conditions of laboratory animals, with particular emphasis on the environmental enrichment, the normal behavior of rodents and leporidae and the recognition of abnormal behavior, such as intolerance, pain, hardship and stress are also described.
●All handling methods, anesthesia, analgesia, pain relief, injections, sampling andeuthanasia regarding lab animals are reported and described.
●The main infectious and parasitic diseases of laboratory animals as well as safety and hygiene rules for laboratory facilities are being taught.
Students will complete the education participating in the practical part of the course (two Workshops in lab animals environment (Clinical, Experimental & Translation Research Center of the Institute for Medical Research, Academy of Athens) where learning activities involving handling, containment, dosing and biological fluids administration, euthanasia, blood and other biological fluids sampling, euthanasia and anatomical retrieval of tissue and organs of the rodent and rabbits’ body are carried out.
The scope of this course is the knowledge acquirement about the different aspects of maintenance (housing, storage, nutrition), welfare and handling of laboratory animals, genetic and microbial control, anesthesia and analgesia, experimental techniques, etc. After successful completion of this course the student will be able to:
●Demonstrate responsibility for the implementation, control and management of the housing and handling conditions of laboratory animals, understanding their contribution to the reliability and repeatability of in vivo experimental results and to the welfare of laboratory animals.
●Implement the safety rules for safe work and experimentation in animal housing facilities, in biomedical laboratories and pharmaceutical industries
●Be aware of any problems in the facility installations and welfare of the lab animals population
● Apply the appropriate practices for immediate resolution and restoration of the proper functioning of the facility
●Collaborate with researchers, scientific and technical staff in the design and implementation of in vivo experimental protocols.

SYLLABUS

1. An overview of the historical evolution of the use of laboratory animals. European and Greek Legislative Framework, Presidential Decree No 56 / 2013.
2. Alternative forms of experimentation. The principle of 3Rs
3. Breeding and accommodation of laboratory animals (housing- building materialsenvironmental control). Sterilization of premises and equipment. Rules on the safety of the laboratory
4. Study of laboratory animals behavior. Environmental enrichment.
5. Methods of laboratory animals handling. Cage care. Administration of medicinal products. Identification- labeling, conditions for transport and handling of laboratory animals both inside and outside the breeding country.
6. Introduction into the genetic laboratory of laboratory animals (a) transgenic animals (b) axenic animals
7. Recognition and management of pain. Administration of analgesic and anesthetic active substances. Euthanasia.
9. Anatomy, physiology and husbandry of the most commonly used laboratory rodents. Scientific fields of use.
10. Anatomy, physiology and husbandry of the most commonly used leporidae and carnivores. Scientific fields of use.
11. Anatomy, physiology and husbandry of the most commonly used primates. Scientific fields of use.
12. Anatomy physiology and husbandry of the most commonly used birds, amphibians and fish. Scientific fields of use.
13. Infectious diseases and parasitic diseases of laboratory animals.
14. Design and official authorization of in vivo experiments.