Castilhos L, Chelini MO, Cortopassi S, Kugelmeier T , Oliveira C, Souza N. Animal-free teaching of reproductive physiology: Video replacement of gonadectomy, hormonal treatment and necropsy in rats [abstract]. ALTEX. 2005;22(Special Issue):14


Abstract

In light of growing awareness of the need to improve animal welfare and to refine, replace and reduce the number of animals needed for demonstration purposes, a video was produced to replace the gonadectomy, hormonal treatment and necropsy in rats, traditionally made by veterinary students during reproduction physiology classes. The first module of this video, set in a laboratory environment, demonstrates restraint and intraperitoneal injection, inhalation anaesthesia, surgical preparation of patient, main surgical procedures, postoperative recovery and hormonal treatment. In the second module physiological response to hormonal treatment is shown and discussed by way of animated diagrams. Covered topics include reproductive anatomy, hormonal function, hypothalamus-pituitary-gonad axis regulation and surgical technique. The 20 minutes DVD was filmed and edited by interns at University Multimedia Studio, which resulted in low cost but high professional quality. Using such an alternative resource we are now able to save many rats from pain, suffering and death. Moreover, the always short class time can be better employed for fruitful exchange of views between teachers and students about the main theme of the class: physiology.





Link to journal: ALTEX - Alternatives to Animal Experimentation