Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 14, 2026
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Diagnostic Necropsy and Selected Tissue and Sample Collection in Rats and Mice
Published on: August 7, 2011
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Optimizing research animal necropsy and histology practices
Victoria Hampshire1, Marian Rippy
1US Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD.
Lab Animal
|April 22, 2015
Summary
Reducing animal use in research is key. Complete necropsy and proper tissue handling at study end maximize data from research animals, ensuring efficient use.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Pathology
- Laboratory Animal Science
- Toxicology
Background:
- Minimizing animal use is a core principle in modern laboratory animal research.
- Comprehensive post-mortem examinations (necropsies) are crucial for understanding experimental outcomes.
- Effective tissue management is essential for maximizing research data.
Purpose of the Study:
- To emphasize the importance of complete necropsy in laboratory animal research.
- To highlight the necessity of proper tissue collection, storage, and assessment.
- To advocate for efficient animal use through thorough end-of-study evaluations.
Main Methods:
- Performing complete necropsies on research animals at the conclusion of studies.
- Implementing standardized protocols for tissue collection and preservation.
- Systematic assessment of collected tissues for pathological findings.
Main Results:
- Necropsies provide critical data on the effects and safety of experimental manipulations.
- Thorough tissue assessment yields comprehensive insights into study outcomes.
- Efficient animal utilization is achieved through detailed post-mortem analysis.
Conclusions:
- Complete necropsy and meticulous tissue handling are vital for maximizing information gained from research animals.
- Adherence to best practices in tissue assessment ensures the most efficient use of animals in research.
- These procedures support the ethical tenet of reducing animal numbers in scientific studies.
