Patil CR, Suryawanshi PS, Raveendran R. Simulation of animal experiments using mannequins, chemical sensors and computer software. Paper presented at: The Three Rs - Together it's possible. 8th World Congress on Alternatives and Animal Use in the Life Sciences; 2011 Aug 21-25; Montreal, Canada


Abstract

The computer assisted learning (CAL) of animal based experiments has substantially contributed to replacement of animals in education and training. However, CAL does not enable the user to develop skills like surgical techniques, dose administration techniques, preparation of drug solutions and recording of bio¬logical responses, which are acquired by performing a wet lab experiment. These skills play a crucial role in actual research activities. Hence, to reinforce the experimental details, there is a need to enrich CAL techniques by combining them with mannequins and chemical sensors. Such combination can lead to better virtualization of the animal experiment and help students develop maximum experimental skills.
The teaching aid developed by us completely simulates the invasive blood pressure recording procedure in rats and dogs.
This module can be used to routinely teach/learn/demonstrate the experiment of invasive blood pressure recording in rat/dog in the same way as it is performed in wet lab experiments. Using this artificial rat/dog along with dummy drug solutions and related software, effects of different drugs on the blood pressure can be demonstrated. "Exam mode" incorporated in the relevant software can be used for conducting exams on these experiments.
The combined use of mannequins, sensors and CAL can simulate the animal based experiments in totality and can prove to be a complete replacement for a few experiments on animals in education and training.



Author's contacts: pchandragouda@yahoo.com



Link to journal: ALTEX - Alternatives to Animal Experimentation