On the significance of animal experiments in toxinology

In increasing areas of the world, there is considerable controversy over the use of animals in scientific research. Ethical, scientific and economic reasons require a reduction in animal experiments as well as animal numbers, a refinement of existing methods and, wherever possible, a replacement of in vivo methods by in vitro test systems. By scoping on papers published in Toxicon between 1980 and 1986, the current situation of animal experimentation in toxinology is evaluated. Fundamental research and antivenin production are reviewed and special reference is given to the experiments involved in drug registration by the example of batroxobin, a purified serine proteinase from Bothrops moojeni venom used as a defibrinogenating agent. Although the ethical question is the most important motif, a reduction in the number of animal experiments can be achieved more pragmatically: the scientific community must learn to constantly ask whether the intention behind an experimental series justifies the use of animals or not. This learning process can be supported by special educational programmes at university level, by making financial support dependent on questionnaires concerning the planned animal experimentation, by including respective questions in the application files for grants, and by ethical guidelines that form an integral part in the instruction for authors of scientific journals.