Animals help scientists; Search for cures resulted in thousands of experiments.

Byline: David Old

ALMOST 21,000 animals were used in medical experiments in a North East university last year, new figures reveal. Scientists used the animals during their research into subjects as diverse as a cure for cancer and treatments for Parkinson's disease.

Almost 18,000 mice were used by research scientists at Newcastle University during 2008, along with 1,546 rats.

Other animals used included monkeys, frogs and more than 1,100 Zebra fish, whose embryos are used to investigate heart conditions. The research, which cost around pounds 1.5m last year, is carried out alongside other work on human volunteers and in test tubes.

Government rules mean every animal used for research must be killed after use, but the university says it is a keen promoter of animal rights.

Prof Paul Flecknell, director of the centre for behaviour and evolution at the university, said: "Last year 3.7m animals were used in the United Kingdom for research across about 250 centres, so Newcastle University is pretty small in comparison with some centres.

"Before we use any animal, we consider where there is an alternative. If there isn't then we'll consider how we can design the project to cause the minimum pain and distress to the animals.

"I went into this as a veterinary surgeon 20 years ago. I find it extremely interesting, but it is a very difficult area as it keeps you constantly questioning: should you be doing this? How are we using the animals? I have a group which for the past 15 years has been looking at how to improve the welfare of animals."

Many of the animals are genetically altered so scientists can research specific conditions. It also means animals are bred which are not needed for the experiment, but still must be put down.

Prof Flecknell said: "They look completely healthy, breed normally, drink and grow normally.

"But every one we breed is considered part of the experiment so we are not permitted, under law, to rehome them. So they must be killed and that adds to the number." Macaque monkeys are being used to research how to help people recover from spinal injuries, while eggs from Xenopus frogs are used to improve understanding of cell division on a molecular basis.

However, the largest area of research is into cancer.

Prof Flenkell said: "The research that frequently produces immediate results is our cancer research group. Over the years it has developed a range of new drugs to treat cancer sufferers. We're living longer and longer, and as a result are developing new sorts of cancer, so there is a constant need to produce medicine which is safe for humans.

"The research on mice is fundamental to understanding why some people get cancer and why some do not."

Most experiments last three to four weeks, but some mice are taking part in ageing studies.

Prof Flenkell added: "They are extremely well looked after for the whole of their lives. They have a great deal in common with older humans.

"Obviously, people may have been exposed to all kinds of things over their lives, but with mice we know exactly what they have been doing as they only live to about three-years-old."

Changes in technology also means fewer animals have to be killed during research. Mice can now be given MRI and CAT scans to monitor cell activity over a longer period of time, rather than using several animals.

STATISTICS

Breakdown by species of the number of animals used in procedures in 2008

Mice 17,931 Rats 1,546 Rabbits 15 Pigs 41 M a ca q u e s 12 (rebus monkey) Domestic Fowl 94 Other Birds 10 Fish 1,105 Xenopus (frog) 58 Total Procedures 20,812