With the Expert Group for Laboratory Animal Science
Program
2021-12-03
09.00 Welcome
”The current state of animal research (including the EU parlament resolution”
Lena Uller, and Madeleine Durbeej-Hjalt
09.20 Presentation
“The importance of humanizing mice”
Jan Nedergaard, Stockholm University
09.55 Break
10.10 Updates from the Swedish 3R-center
Cecilia Bornestaf
10.25 Updates from Research Without Animal Experiments
Karin Gabrielson Morton
10.40 Updates from the Central Ethical Review Board for Animal Research
Ann-Christine Eklöf
10.55 Activity
11.05 Break
11.20 Key note speaker
“Animal studies and non-animal alternatives in Covid-19 research”
Professor Coenraad Hendriksen, University of Utrecht
12:20 Activity
12.30 Closing
Thoughts
Jan Nedergaard’s presentation adressed the physiological changes that would occur if the microenvironment (housing) temperature would increase from around 20 to 30 degrees celcius. Apparently in many cases when kept at higher temperatures, the mouse physiology will be more similar to the that of humans – something that could potentially improve translatability of animal models to human subjects.
In previous studies, increasing the housing temperature from 20 to 30 degrees celcius has been shown to reduce their physical activity, reduce their basal metabolic rate, and consequently result in the mice developing larger body sizes (of which the increase is mostly driven by fat accumulation). Interestingly, although based on very preliminary data, it seems that this could increase life expectancy as this phenotype was associated with longer life.
While translatability of animal research is of great importance, we should never forget to treat them humanely and ensure they have as good quality of life as can be arranged. If increasing the temperature from 20 to 30 degrees celcius reduces their physical activity, does this mean that they will become less sociable and reduce their playtime? If the mice get larger, will this mean that the maximum count per cages will have to be reduced? If so, this could increase the risk of social isolation. These points were never bought up or adressed during the presentation. Will increasing the temperature only bring sunshine and roses, or could there be some negative consequence which we haven’t thought of yet?
