AR-News: (Scotland) University denies researchers' tests on sheep were cruel

[Ronda Roaring]

Sat 24 Apr 2004printer friendly  email articleUniversity denies researchers' tests on sheep were cruel 

CHRIS MCAULEY 

GLASGOW University has "vigorously rejected" claims by animal rights campaigners that experiments carried out in the name of scientific research involved sheep being subjected to needless suffering and trauma. 

Campaigners claim that the sheep suffered "horrific" pain during experiments at the Institute of Comparative Medicine, where they allege the animals had lethal chemicals injected into their spinal cords deliberately to increase sensitivity to pain and inflammation. 

Following the tests, all 24 animals were destroyed, according to the National Anti-Vivisection Society (NAVS). 

Yesterday, a spokeswoman for the university claimed the purpose of the experiment was to eradicate ‘foot rot’ in sheep and was "wholly justifiable". 

She said the university always maintained the highest levels of animal care and "strongly denied" accusations of cruelty. 

But animal rights groups are now planning to demonstrate at the university next week, after details of the experiments, funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, appeared in the scientific journal Pain, vol 106, in December 2003. 

Jan Creamer, chief executive of NAVS, said the experiments were "truly shocking". 

She said: "This type of research belongs in the Victorian era, and it does Glasgow University no credit at all to be using such old-fashioned and crude methods. 

"Leaving animals in agony for prolonged periods for any so-called research is archaic, primitive and totally indefensible. 

"The University of Glasgow should be made to publicly explain why it carried out these experiments." 

NAVS claim the researchers injected the animals - 14 of which were lame with foot rot - with the toxic drug Carageenan, which causes inflammation of the skin and increases the body’s sensitivity to pain. 

The lame sheep allegedly had the pins inserted into their feet and legs before they, and the rest of the flock, were destroyed. 

A spokeswoman for Glasgow University denied the allegations yesterday. 

She also claimed that the 24 animals chosen for the study were already suffering from foot rot and were used over a period of four years. 

The spokeswoman said: "The studies were designed to increase understanding of the ways by which foot rot, a highly prevalent naturally occurring disease, causes pain in sheep, and therefore is wholly justifiable. 

"The University of Glasgow strongly denies any claims of cruelty during the course of this research, and would emphasise that all research involving the use of animals is governed by protocols, terms and conditions of the appropriate Home Office project, and Personal Licences." 

The spokeswoman also denied that any sharp or pin-like instruments were used in the course of the experiments. 

She added: "A blunt, pen-like instrument was used to measure the touch sensitivity of the animals to a mechanical stimulus. No needles or sharp objects were used." 

Although the UK government is committed to reducing the number of animal experiments carried out for research purposes, there were almost three million experiments carried out in the UK last year. 

Researchers can only obtain licences if they can clearly demonstrate that there are no alternatives to using animals.



		
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