(Prosci Incorporated, n.d.; Washington State University Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee, 2019)
Animal Research
6.1 Although these animals are not necessarily being used for research, they are still a segment of an institutional laboratory and a
protocol should be submitted to IACUC to cover the activities. According to Macrina (2014), “along with a detailed explanation of the
experimental procedures to be performed on the animals, the use of appropriate anesthetics, analgesics, or sedatives should be
described. Description of the drugs used for these purposes, as well as the dosages and frequency of administration, should be detailed
enough that the committee can determine that they are appropriate for the species and experimental procedures involved.”
Additionally, a mention of the contracted laboratory that would be screening for specific pathogens should be submitted to IACUC as
well with the laboratory’s methods for screenings. A pivotal goal in animal research is to minimize pain and distress in animals
(Macrina, 2014).
6.2 I think Dr. Spiegel should’ve taken all complaints on animal care seriously, no matter how “petty” they sounded, especially if the
complaints were submitted by principal investigators. If the complaints were resolved adequately, there wouldn’t have been any
evidence for Janie to “uncover.” Furthermore, Dr. Spiegel should speak privately with Janie, with the medical school’s legal counsel
present. Dr. Spiegel should address Janie’s alliance with the international animal rights organization in addition to her frequent
discussions with investigators that had interfered with her assigned duties as an animal caretaker. In my opinion, if Janie’s goal was to
expose animal mistreatment in medical research, she failed because she, herself, didn’t partake in her assigned duties as an animal
caretaker. Lastly, Dr. Spiegel should aim to resolve all of the complaints that were mentioned to him, even if that involves contacting
IACUC for further investigation.
6.4 Macrina (2014) states, “any steps that were taken to make the proposed experiments less invasive, or to make use of a species
lower on the phylogenetic tree, should be explained for the committee.” Similarly, “along with a detailed explanation of the
experimental procedures to be performed on the animals, the use of appropriate anesthetics, analgesics, or sedatives should be
described. Description of the drugs used for these purposes, as well as the dosages and frequency of administration, should be detailed
enough that the committee can determine that they are appropriate for the species and experimental procedures involved. An
assessment of pain and distress anticipated can be useful for the committee. (Procedures that are painful in humans must be considered
to be painful in animals unless evidence to the contrary is supplied.) The investigator must also describe the criteria and process that
will be used to remove animals from a study, or euthanize them, if painful or stressful outcomes may be anticipated. Post procedure
care of the animals should be described, as well as the method of euthanasia or ultimate disposition.” In this case, I think Jiao should
speak to a member of IACUC concerning the attitude and negligence to animal care her mentor is displaying. Yes, their mentor-trainee
relationship will be destroyed, however, Jiao is preventing more intentional harm to the animals in their laboratory. I also agree with
Bryan that Jiao is protecting her profession, future of her career, and the research industry. Mark’s reference to Proverbs 12:10, “a
righteous man regards the life of his animal, but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel,” speaks volumes to what we all should
abide by.
6.7 I think the issue would be resolved if Dr. Schwartz contacted Dr. Tanaka and they sorted out the situation together. Dr. Tanaka
could return early from the overseas research institute and they could proceed according to Dr. Tanaka’s protocol especially if Dr.
Schwartz is consistently monitoring the two mice. Additionally, for times like these, technological advances are necessary; Dr.
Schwartz can video-chat Dr. Tanaka. Dr. Schwartz shouldn’t jeopardize her reputation as a scientist or colleague because of
uncertainty on what to do in this situation; there are options available. With the approval by Dr. Tanaka, Dr, Schwartz should contact
IACUC and the on-call veterinarian and mention her idea of anesthetizing the two dying rats with isoflurane using the apparatus from
her lab. I don’t think the veterinarian would shut down the experiment if a similar procedure to Dr. Tanaka’s is conducted, although,
Dr. Schwartz should try her best to comply with Dr. Tanaka’s protocol. Although Dr. Schwartz is not an investigator for Dr. Tanaka’s
project, she is highly trained in the field of neurodegenerative disease and is working with rodent models in her lab as well.
I hope Dr. Schwartz takes my counsel. Proverbs 27:9 (English Standard Version) states, “oil and perfume make the heart glad, and the
sweetness of a friend comes from his earnest counsel.”
6.9 Hi Zach, your post is very well written, and I agree with your argument. Dr. Featherstone’s solution is not ethical, although the
commercial laboratory is legal. The issue with using the mouse ascites method of monoclonal antibodies was not Dr. Featherstone’s
ability produce them, but the methods utilized to retrieve the antibodies. In turn, the commercial source for monoclonal antibodies was
an appropriate alternative to using murine models for monoclonal antibody production. I took the liberty in searching what the ascites
production process is. Mice are primed before hybridoma cells are injected into their peritoneal cavity. The number of cells that are
injected ranges from hundreds of thousands to millions. The new “ascites” is incubated in the mice for one to two weeks before taken
out. After the ascites fluid is extracted from the mouse, it is spun down in a centrifuge, Custom contract lab that she has engaged to
produce the antibody using her cell lines and to her specifications. According to Washington State University (2017), the production of
monoclonal antibodies in murine animals has the potential to produce pain, distress, or discomfort in the animals utilized. Moreover,
Dr. Louis does have the obligation to report this information to the IACUC as a member of the IACUC itself. Dr. Featherstone did not
mention the commercial source was a custom lab that is using her own cell lines and according to her specifications. Dr. Featherstone
should’ve stated in the previous proposal to the IACUC her personal recommendations to the commercial laboratory. I do agree with
you here, Zach, that the IACUC should’ve done more than simply approve the proposal and should’ve taken the extra step in making
suggestions for the revision. I would exhort Psalm 34:13(New International Version) to Dr. Featherstone; it states, “keep your tongue
from evil and your lips from telling lies.”
6.10 I would personally call the lab director for his opinion especially since Tom is particularly concerned only with his dissertation
and not the welfare of the animals. It would be of my best interest to read the protocol for this type of situation. Additionally, it would
be beneficial to the stop the experimentation because it allows for the determination of the rats’ death or paralysis, further promoting
accurate future experimentation. Afterwards, I would inform the IACUC although it does against Tom’s favor. Also, if Tom is
suggesting that the paralysis and death is due to my inadequate experience, then he should even more want to be involved and teach
me the correct way of installing the catheter. Romans 13 states that we must “respect our authorities.” Although it may go against our
wants, it should always be on our minds.
Macrina, F. (2014). Use of humans in biomedical research. In Scientific integrity: Text and cases in responsible conduct of research
(4th ed., pp. 135–140).
Prosci Incorporated. (n.d.). Ascites production process. Retrieved from Prosci Incorporated website: https://www.prosci-
inc.com/resources/antibody-development-guide/ascites-production-process/
Washington State University Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee. (2019). The use of mouse ascites in the production of
monoclonal antibodies. Retrieved from Washington State University website:
https://iacuc.wsu.edu/documents/2016/06/policy_23.pdf/
Commentary: All my answers to the case studies solely references the Macrina (2014). However, it is important to address animal
rights from a religious perspective as written by Geisler (2010). There are three major views: materialistic, pantheistic, and theistic.
The materialistic view of animal rights assumes that humankind differs only in degree and not in kind from animals. Therefore, a
difference in degree can eventually become a difference in kind and apparent differences in kind are always reducible to differences in
degree. Additionally, according to this view, humans and animals can both solve problems, animals associate in a social fashion as
humans do, neurotic insanity is found in both humans and animals, and human differ only in degree from animals because there is no
such thing as a rational soul. Geisler further evaluates an argument against the materialistic view: a difference in kind revolts against
evolution, human differences from animals are not merely superficial, human rationality (discursive reasoning) did not develop in an
evolutionary manner, animal sociality (instinct) is different from human sociality (convention), and neurotic insanity in animals is
conditioned while humans can go insane without the aid of a psychologist. I would hope Dr. Schwartz should take my
advice. Proverbs 27:9 (English Standard Version) states, "oil and perfume make the heart glad, and the sweetness from a friend comes
from his earnest counsel."
