Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 14, 2026
07:59
Transition of Farm Pigs to Research Pigs using a Designated Checklist followed by Initiation of Clicker Training - a Refinement Initiative
Published on: August 21, 2021
Trends in animal experimentation.
Rosangela Monteiro1, Ricardo Brandau, Walter J Gomes
1Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, Brasil.
Summary
This study analyzed Brazilian medical journals from 2007-2008, finding that 11.1% of articles used animal models, primarily rats. Ethical guidelines were present in most journals, with induced animal models being standard.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Research
- Scientific Publishing
Background:
- Animal models are crucial for understanding disease etiology, mechanisms, and treatment.
- The development of animal models has advanced significantly in recent decades.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review animal experimentation models, selection criteria, and current trends in Brazil.
- To assess the prevalence of experimental articles in Brazilian medical journals.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of five Brazilian medical journals indexed in major databases (LILACS, SciELO, MEDLINE, JCR).
- Selection of papers published between 2007 and 2008 that utilized animal models, based on abstracts.
- Evaluation of ethical guidelines for animal research in author instructions.
Main Results:
- 92 out of 832 (11.1%) published articles employed animal models.
- Experimental articles constituted 5.2% to 17.9% of the total content.
- Induced animal models were used in 100% of selected studies, with rats being the most common (78.3%).
- 80% of journals included explicit ethical principles for animal studies in their author instructions.
Conclusions:
- Findings provide data to inform editorial policies for animal research publications.
- Highlights the importance of standardized reporting and ethical considerations in animal experimentation.
Related Concept Videos
01:56Ethics in Research
Today, scientists agree that good research is ethical in nature and is guided by a basic respect for human dignity and safety. However, this has not always been the case. Modern researchers must demonstrate that the research they perform is ethically sound.
01:23Toxicity Testing in Animals
Toxicity tests in animals are grounded on two main assumptions: first, the effects observed in laboratory animals can be extrapolated to humans, especially when adjusted for body surface area; second, high-dose exposure in animals is essential to identify potential human hazards from lower doses. This is based on the quantal dose-response concept, which faces the challenge of extrapolating results from relatively few test animals to much larger human populations. For example, a 0.01% incidence...