w w w w w w w w w w 7 _1w qw mr W, w w NIMALS HAVE BEEN USED as subjects in biomedical research for decades. But moral concerns over animal experimentation have led to the formation of several hundred anti- vivisectionist groups opposed to animal use, many of them begun in the 1970s. Most scientists at Michigan say they haven't been targets of actions by research opponents in defense of animals. They are concerned, however, that objections to their work may some day interrupt it. That work involves a tremendous number of specimens. According to statistics provided by the office of the vice president for research, University researchers used 98,710 animals between October 1, 1985 and September 30, 1986. Over 70,000 of these were mice and rats, and another 11,000 were fish. Scientists also used more than 2,300 dogs, over 500 cats, 3,012 rabbits, 108 chickens, one goat, and 57 assorted reptiles, including at least one alligator. Experimentation is conducted under guidelines, relatively new proceedures at the University. Dr. Bennett Cohen, a veterinarian with a background in physiology, came to Michigan in 1962 to create a University-wide program regarding research involving animals. He was confronted by researchers who feared outside interference with their projects. At that time, individual scientists ran their own labs, hired their own staffs, bought their own animals - and worked largely without regulations. In the early 1960s, Cohen developed comprehensive rules for the use of animals in the Medical School and subsequently for the rest of the University, and then helped write national guidelines. The result was the Unit for. Laboratory Animal Medicine (ULAM), a department of the Medical School responsible for administering the use of animals throughout the University. Those efforts also led to the creation to the University Committee on the Use and Care of Animals (UCUCA). Now all projects that involve animals in research must be approved by UCUCA. Last year, the committe approved 725 proposals involving animal research. Dr. Daniel Ringler, Lustig is a Daily staff reporter; Schreiber is Photo Editor. Inil as tools research By Michael Lustig Photos by Andi Schreiber who succeeded Cohen as director of ULAM in 1985 and who is an member of the committee, said only one-third to one- half of the proposals approved are carried out, largely because the National Institutes of Health (NIH) does not provide funding for all approved projects. Researchers must submit a 10-page form describing their experiment, purpose, whether the experiment can be done by artificial means, why the number of animals proposed is necessary for the experiment, and what the fate of the animals being used might be.. Most proposals are reviewed quickly, but projects using "dogs, cats, or monkeys are looked at the hardest," said Alan Price, associate vice president for research. Researchers who submit applications that are vague and unclear are questioned by UCUCA, he said. The Humane Use category asks researchers to describe what level of pain an animal might be subjected to. Category A indicates little or no pain. Category B means animal will experience some pain, and Category C experiments have the potential for severe pain or permanant injury. Dr. Jill Becker, an assistant research scientist in psychology and UCUCA member, said the division between B and C is fuZzy. She favors classifying experiments in category C if a chance for pain exists. "I don't think anyone wants to see animals suffer," she said. About two-thirds of all research involving animals is done in the Medical School, Ringler said. LSA research is done in natural science departments like biology and chemistry. Animals are also used in research projects in the School of Dentistry and the School of Public Health, among others. Animal research is done in 23 buildings on campusat a total cost of about $35 million in 1984-85. Most Medical School research is administered through ULAM, a department which now has five full veterinarians and seven more veterinary assistants. ULAM's offices offices are hidden deep in the basement of the Medical Science I Building. Many doors have special locks, but while security is tight, Ringler says neither he nor the University have anything to hide. "We will give tours to any responsible person and take them wherever they want to go," he said. Ringler said animals are used in a wide range of research activities. The development of diseases is studied and new One of the most remar the "nude mouse," so nam in an area of ULAM whe sterile. The mice are use tumors from humans impl then be tested on the ti conditions cause the care fc he said, adding, "We just complicates research." Ringler showed a pig t pressure studies. A cath pressure. He said inducing which can't be done in hu farm, and it "would have instead, it's helping in rese; Dr. Stevo Julius is hea the department of internal pressure in dogs for brief p out whether the condition c there is any influence by d "In this way, we hope t system does," Julius said. like this in humans." ECKER STUD degenerative i behavior and lo She induces the adrenal gland ti brain to try and Newspapers reported la: has been performing on n successfully on two men Mexico. Researchers in biologys about beginnings. Yocum cell division. Fish are used visual systems. Zebra fish a of spinal cord developmer central nervous system is alligator. Like Ringler, Yocum ir trying to hide its animal rooms on the ground floor with blackened windows ar not completely true. Som guidelines recommend they But other animals are held i face the Diag and N. Univer The ULAM facilities are Science I and II Buildings. ( third floor to accomadate n guidelines. The animals li environment, light, and wa computer. Ringler says animals u treated as if they were hum the anesthesia used on anim at University Hospitals. "Our X-ray machine is Health Services," he added. The cost of the animal much per square foot as la dog pens, required by the Ni Price added that because University will have to spe add one inch to the size of r Much of the research d monitored by ULAM, Yoci involving animals is not e experiments are being run ri emphasis on animal experin In some institutions on labs have been broken int and animals have been stole "It's really silly," Pric broken in to steal animal themselves. Some animals See AN Ducklings like these are immunized, and then antibodies are taken to develop new immunizations. Dr. Ringler (above, left) holds a dog used in cardiovascular studies. ways to combat them are tested in animals. Researchers also study animals with internal systems similar to humans to get a better understanding of the human nervous and cardiovascular structures. Many animals are used to obtain cells or to make anti-bodies, proteins in the blood that combat diseases, to try and develop immunizations and cures. Animals are obtained from a variety of places, but "the vast majority are bred specifically for research" in the labs, Ringler said. Prof. Charles Yocum, head of the biology department, said researchers in his department "breed their own rats to maintain a constant genetic pool. A slight difference in genetic makeup can ruin an experiment." Other animals are purchased from companies that specialize in breeding animals for research. Some dogs and cats used by researchers come from pounds and shelters. Animal dealers, who must be federally licensed, buy them from pounds after they've been held for a minimum of four or five days. Shelters sell them for $2 to $4; dealers check their health, condition them for research, and sell them to the University for about $35 each. Ringler said the number of animals the University uses from pounds is miniscule compared to over 500,000 animals killed in animal shelters statewide every year. We willgive tours to any responsible person and take them wherever they want to go.'- - Dr. Daniel Ringler (left, in his office at the Medical School), director of the Unit for Laboratory Animal Medicine PAGE 6 WEEKEND/APRIL 10, 1987 WEEKEND/APRIL 10, 1987