Proceedings from advanced course for senior academic and management staff in laboratory animal science, Die, July 6-15, 1990

The subject was restricted to the communication with the general public, often represented by journalists. Initially, it was also stated that we have to approach them with the prerequisite that they are entitled to get the proper information. Some general rules were given, for example be honest, be clear and concise, don’t exaggerate, don’t oversimplify, prepare yourself with answers to common questions and examples of benefits from animals used in biomedical research. Also consider whether or not to seek support from professional public relation staff. When communicating, try to concentrate on a few issues and try to put forward questions yourself. Avoid pure propaganda.A few examples of general statements were given that might be useful:— All humans, livestock and pets are consumers of the results from animal research.— Relatively few animals are used for trivial purposes, e.g. cosmetics.— The development of alternative methods, not using live animals, is stimulated by their relatively lower costs.— Data from animals cannot always be extrapolalated to man, but it reduces the risks.— Give figures and facts on other human use of animals, but don’t use it to justify lab-animal use.— Pictures of severely diseased humans might underline the need for biomedical research. It was recommended that ICLAS addresses editors of journals so as to point out that animals and their environment should be described adequately, and that certain guidelines should be followed concerning the ethical aspects of animal use

The basis for standardization of animal experimentation

No abstract availabl

Fatty acid composition of commercial rodent diets

No abstract availabl

Technical note Communication: Frequency of cage changing and weight gain in rats

We have studied the influence of the frequency of cage changing on body weight gain in young female rats over a 2-week period. Rats were subjected to either true or sham cage changing so as to balance for possible effects of handling. Cage changing once every day or once every three days caused significantly lower rates of weight gain in the first but not second week of study than did cage changing once every 14 days. It is suggested tentatively that stress associated with cage changing is responsible for the observed growth inhibiting effect

Alopecia in Rabbits Fed Semi-purified Diets with Marginal Protein Content

A marginal (i.e. less than optimal) protein intake by rabbits has been suggested to cause hair loss. Our  recent study with rabbits offered the opportunity to test the suggestion under controlled conditions. Young  growing rabbits were fed one of four semi-purified diets. The diets were high (21.6 energy % protein) or  low in casein (13.0 energy % protein) with either high or low level of corn oil (21.1 instead of 5.3 energy  %). On various body parts of the rabbits, the degree of alopecia was scored. Upon slaughter, the amount of  hair in the stomach was assessed. The low-fat diets with either high or low protein content induced similar  growth rates, indicating that the low protein level was not limiting growth. It was found that a decrease in  the protein level of the low-fat diet was associated with significant alopecia on legs and belly and less hair  accumulation in the stomach. It is concluded that signs of alopecia that are observed in rabbits fed experimental  diets could relate to low dietary protein concentration.

Dietary cholesterol - the role of eggs in the prudent diet

No Abstract

Usoda skrb vzbujajočih onesnaževal v jezerih, nastalih v vrtačah, Florida, ZDA

Zakrasele karbonatne platforme, kot je Florida, zaznamujejo hitra stopnja infiltracije, visoka prepustnost podlage in neposredna povezava z vodonosniki prek številnih vrtač. Kombinacija teh fizikalnih lastnosti prispeva k visoki občutljivosti podtalnice in vodonosnikov na kontaminacijo s skrb vzbujajočimi sintetičnimi kemikalijami. Uporaba greznic spodbuja vnos teh onesnaževal v okolje. Da bi proučili vpliv kemikalij na kraško pokrajino, so bili vzorci vode, sedimenta in vegetacije odvzeti v jezeru, nastalem v vrtači in obdanem s stanovanji, ki so opremljena z greznicami. Glavno vprašanje tega raziskovalnega projekta je, kaj se dogaja z onesnaževali iz grezničnih odplak v vodnem zajetju vrtače. Za analizo vzorcev je bila izvedena masna spektrometrija s tekočinsko kromatografijo. Ugotovljeno je bilo, da je sorazmerna količina kemikalij odvisna od 1) hidrofobnosti in polarnosti spojine, 2) mesta vzorčenja, 3) topografskega gradienta in 4) za vegetacijo, povezanosti vrste vzorca s sedimentom. Hidrogeološke študije so pokazale, da so vrtače na tem območju povezane z vodonosnikom, ki je pod njimi. Posledično skrb vzbujajoča onesnaževala predstavljajo tveganje za onesnaženje podtalnice. Ta študija je prikaz razmer v sušni sezoni Floride, to je najverjetneje obdobje z najmanjšo kontaminacijo. Vzorčenje bi bilo treba opraviti v tudi deževnem obdobju, ko izpiranje onesnaževal iz greznic lahko poveča koncentracije onesnaževal, tako v jezeru kot v vodonosnikih, kar je posebno problematično zaradi uporabnosti vode iz vodnjaka v prehranske namene. Čeprav je bila študija izvedena na Floridi, verjamemo, da so naše ugotovitve in priporočila splošno uporabni, saj se greznice uporabljajo v številnih kraških predelih sveta.Highly karstified carbonate platforms such as Florida are characterized by rapid infiltration rates, highly permeable bedrock and the direct connection to the below aquifer through the high density of sinkholes. This combination of physical features makes the groundwater and aquifers highly vulnerable to contamination from synthetic chemicals commonly referred to as contaminants of emerging concern (CECs). The use of septic tanks, otherwise referred to as onsite water treatment systems (OWTS), promotes the introduction of CECs into the environment. In order to study the impacts of CECs from OWTS on a karst landscape, water, sediment, and vegetation samples were collected in a sinkhole lake surrounded by residential housing using this waste disposal method. The main question of this research project is what is the fate of CECs from OWTSs effluent within the catchment of a sinkhole lake? Liquid chromatograph mass spectrometry was used to analyze the samples for the presence of CECs. It was found that the relative quantity of CECs in the individual constituents is dependent upon 1) the hydrophobicity and polarity of the individual compound, 2) the specific sampling site, 3) the topography gradient, and 4) for vegetation, the connectedness of the sample type to the sediment. Hydrogeological studies have found that the sinkholes of the area are all connected to the below aquifer. Consequently, these CECs pose a risk of the contamination of the groundwater. This study is a temporal snapshot, that being the dry season of Florida which is most likely the time of lowest CEC contamination. It is imperative that sampling extend into the wet season when flushing of CECs from the OWTS may increase their concentrations in both the lake but also the aquifers especially since residents use well water as their source of potable water. While this study is based in Florida, we strongly suspect that our findings and recommendations are applicable more generally as OWTS are used throughout the many karst regions of the world

Technical note Communication: Frequency ofchanging solid-walled cages does not affect pentobarbitone-induced sleeping time in rats and mice

The effects on pentobarbitone-induced sleeping time of daily cage changing or once every three days versus no changing for 15 days, was investigated in mice and rats, respectively. The animals were housed individually in cages with solid floors and a layer of wood shavings as bedding. Sleeping times were not affected by the frequency of cage changing