The Animal Welfare Act requires that painful or stressful experimentation be relieved or moderated by the use of analgesics, anesthetics, or tranquilizers when these agents will not interfere with the experimental objectives. Animal study protocols must indicate the drug(s) and dose to be used (Section B-14, Animal Study Protocol Application (ASPA) form). If pain or stress is unavoidable and such drugs are contra-indicated by the nature of the study, the principal investigator must write a justification for review by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee. The level of pain for which it is necessary to use chemical relief is generally anything more intense than the pain associated with injection of the drug. A procedure is regarded as painful if it produces abnormal escape behavior in the animal, results in significant tissue damage, or would be interpreted as painful if done in humans (see ASPA, Pain or Distress Categories - http://www.research.olemiss.edu/compliance/IACUC/protocol_appforms).
Familiarity with the signs of pain and distress associated with your particular species is essential for monitoring the animals. Researchers should provide all persons who will be monitoring the animals with guidelines and adequate training to be proficient in this area. Procedures to follow in the event of unexpected pain or distress should be outlined in the ASPA.
This manual includes a guide for selection and use of anesthetics, analgesics, and tranquilizers. Many of these are controlled agents and require a DEA license, a locked storage area, and careful records of their use.
Humane endpoints are an important part of all studies which involve pain and distress, particularly those where morbidity or mortality may occur. The purpose of these endpoints is to minimize pain, distress, or illness in laboratory animals while allowing the researcher to reach their research objectives. Many parameters can be used to determine these early predictors of irreversible deterioration in animals and will vary with species, procedures, models, etc. Sources of information that might be helpful:
Humane endpoints should be tailored to include general signs of pain and distress as well as signs which may be associated with individual projects.
Below is a list of endpoint criteria from: Montgomery, C.A., Jr. Oncological and toxicological research: Alleviation and control of pain and distress in laboratory animals. Cancer Bulletin; 42(4):230-237, 1990.