Reduction Alternatives

Animal model selection

Appropriate choice of animal model can be considered a Reduction alternative, as it should minimize variation in the experiment and hence the numbers of animals that are required. Selection of an inappropriate model may not only waste animals, but may also waste human resources and result in misleading data.

Using an appropriate model can be considered a Reduction alternative when:

• the use of isogenic, or genetically identical, strains (inbred strains and F1 hybrids) results in less experimental variability than would occur when outbred strains are used;
• the model has been validated and shown to meet the objectives of the research and/or be predictive of the endpoint of interest;
• the model has been fully characterized so that all aspects of the animal's life cycle and their potential impact on the experiment are understood (for example, to ensure the animal will survive long enough to complete the experiment, or whether the rapid growth of a young animal is appropriate to model an adult human); and
• the model is being continuously improved to decrease variability and improve it's predictivity.

For more information and resources on animal model selection, the following resources may be useful:

• Canadian Council on Animal Care (CCAC) (2008) Species selection
• Wood M.W. & Hart L.A. (2008) Selecting appropriate animal models and strains: making the best use of research information and outreach. AATEX 14:303-306.

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