Promoting the welfare of animals utilized in neuroscience research

Abstract

The safeguarding of animal welfare holds a deep-rooted history within public institutions and legislative structures, with the objective of enhancing the comfort and overall wellbeing of animals throughout the entire experimental process. It is paramount to harmonize the enhancement of animal welfare with medical research practices, as this is pivotal in mitigating factors that impede modeling precision and prioritizing their welfare. This commitment has nurtured innovation in advanced experimental methodologies and welfare evaluation techniques. The classic 3Rs principle-replacement, reduction, and refinement-serves as a fundamental cornerstone for advancing the welfare of model animals. The establishment of appropriate metrics for animal welfare, rooted in the 3Rs principle, will propel progress in related fields. This review delves into the evolution of animal ethics and the 3R principles, alongside strategies to elevate the welfare of various model animals utilized in neuroscience, encompassing non-human primates, rodents, zebrafish, and other species. The aim of this review is to clarify the notion of welfare in this context and to evaluate the merits and constraints of utilizing model animals in neuroscience research. This, in essence, may contribute to bolstering animal protection and standardizing their use in research endeavors. Additionally, the pursuit of novel modeling methodologies is imperative to provide superior alternatives for neuroscience research.