Animal models of obesity in rodents. An integrative review

ABSTRACT PURPOSE: To perform an integrative review of the main animal disease models in rodents used for obesity. METHODS: Research was conducted in the CAPES Portal database using the following keywords "obesity animal models, diet and rodents", published between the years 2010 to 2016. We found 108 articles, of which 19 were selected and analyzed in full for this study. RESULTS: Larger part of publications occurred in the last 6 years, the rats (n = 10) were used in the same proportion mice (n = 10). The choice of male animals (n = 18) and age greater than 21 days (n = 17) showed a major highlight. The greater than 5 week follow-up period (n = 18) was the most applied. A High Fat Diet was the most used in studies (n = 18) . CONCLUSIONS: Male rodents continue to be considered the species most used in experimental studies to induce obesity, also was found variations of age to the beginning of the experiment. For the most part are follow-up time studies along with the use of High Fat Diet.

Direito e experimentação animal: uma análise à luz da legislação ambiental / Right and animal experimentation: an analysis in the light of environmental law

A presente dissertação versa sobre os motivos e os meios capazes de tornar factível a abolição do uso de animais em experimentação. A existência de grupos contrários à exploração dos animais em pesquisa é secular, mas ao considerar aspectos jurídicos e morais vigentes, e relacioná-los aos verdadeiros interesses que movem a prática vê-se a possibilidade de abolir a escravização de animais no Brasil com fulcro na Constituição Federal e na Lei de Crimes Ambientais. O argumento principal se funda no braço da Carta Magna que protege a vida animal e em dispositivo legal ambiental que admite a experimentação apenas quando da não existência de recursos alternativos. Verificar-se-á que determinada lei inconstitucional e seu decreto regulamentador, contrários aos avanços da nova compreensão trazida pela Lei Maior buscam dissolver os dispositivos protetivos e resguardar a referida atividade experimental, a qual impõe inúmeros sofrimentos aos animais. Conceitos como crueldade aos animais, benefício humano, recursos alternativos, bem-estar animal, morte humanitária, promoção à saúde, prevenção de doenças, doenças negligenciadas dentre outros igualmente importantes à percepção dos interesses econômicos que envolvem a prática da experimentação animal serão averiguados, a fim de permitir uma melhor compreensão das regras legais e morais, de modo a alargar o alcance da justiça que assim poderá ser concretizada, protegendo efetivamente animais humanos e não humanos.

This dissertation deals with the reasons and the means capable of making feasible the abolition of animal use in experimentation. The existence of groups against the animals use in research is secular, but when considering prevailing legal and moral aspects and relate them to the real interests that moves the practice to see the possibility of abolish the enslavement of animals in Brazil with the fulcrum Federal Constitution and the Law of Environmental Crimes. The main argument is based on the Magna Carta that protects the animal life, and environmental legal provision which allows the trial only when the absence of alternative resources. Will be examined that unconstitutional law and its regulatory, contrary to advances in new understanding brought by Major Law decree seeking to dissolve the protective devices and safeguard the experimental activity, which imposes countless suffering to animals. Concepts such as cruelty to animals, human benefit, alternative resources, animal welfare, humane death, health promotion, disease prevention, neglected diseases among others equally important to the perception of the economic interests that involves the practice of animal experimentation will be investigated, to enable a better understanding of the legal and moral rules, to extend the reach of justice, so that can take place effectively protecting human and nonhuman animals.

Animal experimentation and scientific knowledge: a thought style?

Animal experimentation, besides a research method extensively applied in the production of scientific knowledge, is also considered essential to science and with undeniable historical relevance in advances in human health. In this survey, a questionnaire was applied to a group of researchers involved with research based on non-animal models (n =18), and to another group involved with research based on animal models (n =18). The data analysis was grounded in Ludwik Fleck (1896 -1961) epistemological assumptions. The results suggested that there are at least two thought styles operating in consonance on the same research problem (advances in human health conditions) with significantly different conceptions not only concerning the research practices involved, but also the historical conceptions related to the role of animal experimentation.

A experimentação animal, além de método amplamente aplicado na produção do conhecimento científico, é considerada como essencial à ciência e com valor histórico inegável no progresso das condições de saúde humana. Neste levantamento, um questionário foi aplicado a um grupo de pesquisadores com trabalhos baseados em modelos não-animais (n =18) e a outro grupo com trabalhos baseados em modelos animais (n =18). A análise de dados se baseou nos pressupostos epitemológicos de Ludwik Fleck (1896-1961). Os dados sugerem que existem pelo menos dois estilos de pensamento operando em consonância sobre o mesmo problema de pesquisa (avanços nas condições de saúde humana), com concepções significativamente diferentes sobre as práticas de pesquisa envolvidas, assim como as concepções históricas relacionadas ao papel da experimentação animal.

Tendências em experimentação animal / Trends in animal experimentation

Introdução: A busca do entendimento de fatores etiológicos, mecanismos e tratamento das doenças tem levado ao desenvolvimento de vários modelos animais nas últimas décadas. OBJETIVO: Esse artigo tem por objetivo discutir aspectos relacionados a modelos animais de experimentação, escolha do animal e tendências atuais nesse campo em nosso país. Além disso, esse estudo buscou avaliar o espaço ocupado por artigos experimentais em revistas médicas. Métodos: Foram selecionadas cinco revistas brasileiras, indexadas na LILACS, SciELO, MEDLINE, e recentemente incorporadas pelo Institute for Scientific Information Journal of Citation Reports. Foram selecionados pelo resumo ou abstract todos os artigos publicados nessas revistas, nos anos de 2007 e 2008, que empregaram modelos animais. Resultados: Do total de 832 artigos publicados no período pelas revistas analisadas, foram selecionados 92 (11,1 por cento) que empregavam animais de experimentação. O número de artigos experimentais variou de 5,2 por cento a 17,9 por cento do conteúdo global da revista. Nas instruções aos autores de quatro (80 por cento) das revistas avaliadas, havia referência explícita aos princípios éticos na condução de estudos com animais. Os modelos animais induzidos representaram 100 por cento dos artigos analisados neste estudo. O rato foi o animal mais empregado nos artigos analisados, sendo utilizado em 78,3 por cento deles. Conclusões: O presente estudo poderá fornecer subsídios para adoção de políticas editoriais futuras relativas à publicação de artigos originários de pesquisa animal na RBCCV.

Introduction:: The search of the understanding of etiological factors, mechanisms and treatment of the diseases has been taking to the development of several animal models in the last decades. OBJECTIVE: To discuss aspects related to animal models of experimentation, animal choice and current trends in this field in our country. In addition, this study evaluated the frequency of experimental articles in medical journals. Methods: Five Brazilian journals indexed by LILACS, SciELO, MEDLINE, and recently incorporate for Institute for Scientific Information Journal of Citation Reports were analyzed. All the papers published in those journals, between 2007 and 2008, that used animal models, were selected based on the abstracts. Results: Of the total of 832 articles published in the period, 92 (11.1 percent) experimentation papers were selected. The number of experimental articles ranged from 5.2 percent to 17.9 percent of the global content of the journal. In the instructions to the authors, four (80 percent) journals presented explicit reference to the ethical principles in the conduction of studies with animals. The induced animal models represented 100 percent of the articles analyzed in this study. The rat was the most employed animal in the analyzed articles (78.3 percent). Conclusions: The present study can contribute, supplying subsidies for adoption of future editorials policies regarding the publication of animal research papers in Brazilian Journal of Cardiovascular Surgery.

Use of live nonhuman primates in research in Asia.

BACKGROUND: Use of live non-human primates (NHPs) in biomedical research is a controversial issue in many parts of the world. Recent use of NHPs in research in Asian countries was surveyed. AIM: To elucidate the use of NHPs in research in Asian countries. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: The peer-reviewed literature was sampled according to the species used, area of research, research class and geographic location. Articles derived from database searches were scrutinised. METHODS AND MATERIAL: Studies were identified from the PrimateLit database. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Results suggested that NHP research was conducted in 16 countries, of which Japan accounted for two-thirds. About 55% of studies involved use of live animals, whereas the remaining 45% used some lower level of biological material. More than 70% of the studies using live NHPs included use of Old World monkeys. M. fuscata (18%), M. mulatta (17%) and M. fascicularis (10%) were the three most commonly used species. The most common research areas were neuroscience (44%), conservation (14%) and behaviour (11%). Due to high demand for NHPs, there is room for increased breeding of NHPs to be used for research in Asian countries.