Guiding Principles for Preparing for and Undertaking Aseptic Surgery is a 13 page guide to aseptic surgical techniques which includes sections on the preparations for surgery, surgery itself, recovery and post-operative care and the monitoring of the outcomes of surgery. It does not deal with housing, husbandry, anaesthesia and analgesia in detail. The principles outlined within it apply equally to both recovery surgery and lengthy procedures carried out under terminal anaesthesia.
Aseptic Technique in Rodent Surgery is a comprehensive 18 minute video tutorial designed to help research workers apply best practice in aseptic surgical techniques in laboratory rodents. It includes sections on preparation of the animal, surgeon, for surgery and surgical procedures themselves and batch surgery, each of which can be viewed separately.
Good practice guide to the administration of substances and removal of blood is a published journal article which provides information on routes, volumes and other considerations for the administration of substances or withdrawal of blood.
Femoral Arterial and Venous Catheterization is a 10 minute video which describes the surgical procedure for the catheterisation of the femoral artery or vein of a rat for chronic blood sampling, drug administration and blood pressure and heart rate measurements in conscious animals. It also includes sections on catheter maintenance and use. The video is accompanied by a transcript.
Systemic and Local Drug Delivery for Treating Diseases of the Central Nervous System in Rodent Models is an 11 minute video which describes the methodology for the systemic (tail vein, intra-peritoneal, oral gavage) and local (microinjection) of compounds into the CNS of mice. The video is accompanied by a transcript. The methods are presented using mice, but can easily be adapted for use in rats.
Blood sampling is a microsite which provides information, both as guidance notes and short video tutorials, on blood sampling in research animals. It includes sections on the general principles, vascular catheters, and sampling in nine species from rodents to marmosets, covering surgical, non-surgical and terminal methods, including removal of blood from veins, arteries, by cannulation, by cardiac puncture and by decapitation.
International Regulations and Resources is a database which provides links to key national animal research legislation, regulations and guidance for different countries across the world.
Guiding Principles for the New Named Persons provides guidance for individuals with legal responsibilities under the UK Animal (Scientific Procedures) Act (A(SP)A) as to their roles and responsibilities.
Guidance on the operation of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986; guidance to accompany the legislation governing the use of animals in scientific research in the United Kingdom
EU Directive 2010/63/EU: The Directive governing the use of animals for research purposes in the European Union. This Directive was incorporated into the national legislation of EU member states on January 2013.
