An assessment of the welfare of non-human primates used in neuroscience research
<p>The Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 governs the use of animals in scientific research in the UK. Embedded within this is a requirement to implement the 3Rs: replacement, reduction, and refinement; a key mechanism for minimising the pain, suffering, distress, and lasting harm of res...
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English |
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2023
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| _version_ | 1826311904190005248 |
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| author | Heppenstall, R |
| author2 | Bergmann, C |
| author_facet | Bergmann, C Heppenstall, R |
| author_sort | Heppenstall, R |
| collection | OXFORD |
| description | <p>The Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 governs the use of animals in scientific research in the UK. Embedded within this is a requirement to implement the 3Rs: replacement, reduction, and refinement; a key mechanism for minimising the pain, suffering, distress, and lasting harm of research models. To adhere fully to these principles, it is imperative to assess animal welfare. Non-human primates (NHP) human similarities make them both an essential biomedical research model and a species particularly vulnerable to welfare challenges. This thesis investigates non-invasive, objective methods of welfare assessment and applies them alongside neuroscience research to monitor the welfare of rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta). </p>
<p>Accelerometers monitored changes in activity levels following general anaesthesia (GA) and revealed a decline in activity for 5.7 days following GA alone. Additionally, 2.6 days of activity decline were observed after surgery under GA, followed by an activity increase, suggesting post-operative behavioural change. Additionally, accelerometers were used to create a rule-based model for automated behavioural assessment. This model groups macaque activity into 5 species-typical behavioural categories with an overall 69% accuracy. </p>
<p>Physiological welfare parameters were assessed by detecting cortisol in faeces and hair. Faecal cortisol levels were significantly elevated for several days following GA, with a longer and more profound increase after surgery. Hair samples are a valuable measure of chronic stress and cumulative experience, facilitating longitudinal cortisol assessment without influence from transient stressors. Hair cortisol levels were significantly elevated post-surgery and, in some cases, following social disruption. </p>
<p>A customised, neck-based ECG was designed to monitor heart rate variability. The ECG was trialled on anaesthetised and restrained NHPs, dogs, and sheep. Proof of concept was achieved, with R-waves detectable in all species. </p>
<p>Overall, this thesis demonstrates how welfare and neuroscience research can be conducted in parallel for a better understanding of the life-time experience of animal models. This is an essential step towards implementing refinements and improving welfare, which may ultimately improve public perception and help to form the evidence-base required to inform and drive policy change. </p>
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| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T08:18:09Z |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oxford-uuid:13e29a86-c7f8-48a8-9f6f-37b40f13f4c6 |
| institution | University of Oxford |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-07T08:18:09Z |
| publishDate | 2023 |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | oxford-uuid:13e29a86-c7f8-48a8-9f6f-37b40f13f4c62024-01-15T13:26:04ZAn assessment of the welfare of non-human primates used in neuroscience research Thesishttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_db06uuid:13e29a86-c7f8-48a8-9f6f-37b40f13f4c6Rhesus monkeyAnimal welfareMacaques--BehaviorStress (Physiology)EnglishHyrax Deposit2023Heppenstall, RBergmann, CWalton, MDuncan, JBannerman, DFlecknell, P<p>The Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 governs the use of animals in scientific research in the UK. Embedded within this is a requirement to implement the 3Rs: replacement, reduction, and refinement; a key mechanism for minimising the pain, suffering, distress, and lasting harm of research models. To adhere fully to these principles, it is imperative to assess animal welfare. Non-human primates (NHP) human similarities make them both an essential biomedical research model and a species particularly vulnerable to welfare challenges. This thesis investigates non-invasive, objective methods of welfare assessment and applies them alongside neuroscience research to monitor the welfare of rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta). </p> <p>Accelerometers monitored changes in activity levels following general anaesthesia (GA) and revealed a decline in activity for 5.7 days following GA alone. Additionally, 2.6 days of activity decline were observed after surgery under GA, followed by an activity increase, suggesting post-operative behavioural change. Additionally, accelerometers were used to create a rule-based model for automated behavioural assessment. This model groups macaque activity into 5 species-typical behavioural categories with an overall 69% accuracy. </p> <p>Physiological welfare parameters were assessed by detecting cortisol in faeces and hair. Faecal cortisol levels were significantly elevated for several days following GA, with a longer and more profound increase after surgery. Hair samples are a valuable measure of chronic stress and cumulative experience, facilitating longitudinal cortisol assessment without influence from transient stressors. Hair cortisol levels were significantly elevated post-surgery and, in some cases, following social disruption. </p> <p>A customised, neck-based ECG was designed to monitor heart rate variability. The ECG was trialled on anaesthetised and restrained NHPs, dogs, and sheep. Proof of concept was achieved, with R-waves detectable in all species. </p> <p>Overall, this thesis demonstrates how welfare and neuroscience research can be conducted in parallel for a better understanding of the life-time experience of animal models. This is an essential step towards implementing refinements and improving welfare, which may ultimately improve public perception and help to form the evidence-base required to inform and drive policy change. </p> |
| spellingShingle | Rhesus monkey Animal welfare Macaques--Behavior Stress (Physiology) Heppenstall, R An assessment of the welfare of non-human primates used in neuroscience research |
| title | An assessment of the welfare of non-human primates used in neuroscience research |
| title_full | An assessment of the welfare of non-human primates used in neuroscience research |
| title_fullStr | An assessment of the welfare of non-human primates used in neuroscience research |
| title_full_unstemmed | An assessment of the welfare of non-human primates used in neuroscience research |
| title_short | An assessment of the welfare of non-human primates used in neuroscience research |
| title_sort | assessment of the welfare of non human primates used in neuroscience research |
| topic | Rhesus monkey Animal welfare Macaques--Behavior Stress (Physiology) |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT heppenstallr anassessmentofthewelfareofnonhumanprimatesusedinneuroscienceresearch AT heppenstallr assessmentofthewelfareofnonhumanprimatesusedinneuroscienceresearch |