Ethics committee recommendations for laboratory animals in private research in France.

Complementary to existing legislation, non-public research companies in France have been working together voluntarily within an organization known as Grice (Interprofessional Working Group on Ethics Committees for Laboratory Animals/Groupe de Réflexion Interprofessionnel sur les Comites d'Ethique appliquée à l'animal de laboratoire) with the objective of creating institutional ethics committees in an effort to promote animal welfare and good scientific procedures. Each company's commitment to the creation of these committees has been expressed by signing the Charter. Each ethics committee is composed of at least three members, including one who is not a scientist; a veterinarian is highly desirable.

The pharmacotherapy of focal cortical ischaemia in the mouse.

The measurement of cortical omega 3 (peripheral-type benzodiazepine binding) site densities provides an accurate index for the detection and quantification of ischaemic brain lesions following middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) in mice. Here, we have used this marker to assess the neuroprotective activity of potential anti-ischaemic drugs belonging to several chemical classes. In untreated mice, the mean infarcted volume measured 96 h after unilateral coagulation of the middle cerebral artery was 27.

The quantification of brain lesions with an omega 3 site ligand: a critical analysis of animal models of cerebral ischaemia and neurodegeneration.

Previous investigations have indicated that the detection and quantification of omega 3 (peripheral type benzodiazepine) binding site densities that are associated with reactive astroglia and macrophages could be of widespread applicability in the localization and indirect assessment of neural tissue damage in the central nervous system. In the present study, we analyze the usefulness of this approach in a number of experimental models that are characterized by (or putatively involve) neuronal degeneration. One week after the systemic administration of the excitotoxin, kainate, a marked increase in omega 3 site densities (as assessed by [3H]PK 11195 binding) was noted, an increase that was most prominent in known regions of selective vulnerability (hippocampus and septum).

Cellular distribution of omega 3 (peripheral type benzodiazepine) binding sites in the normal and ischaemic rat brain: an autoradiographic study with the photoaffinity ligand [3H]PK 14105.

The microscopic distribution of omega 3 (peripheral type benzodiazepine) binding sites in sections from normal and ischaemic rat brain has been determined by emulsion autoradiography with the photoaffinity ligand [3H]PK 14105. In the normal rat brain, high densities of omega 3 sites were present in the ependymal cells, the apical pole of the secretory cells in the choroid plexus and astrocyte-like cells in the outer cellular layer of the olfactory bulb. In ischaemic brain lesions caused by middle cerebral artery occlusion in spontaneously hypertensive rats or in spontaneous ischaemic and haemorrhagic lesions in spontaneously hypertensive stroke-prone rats, the proliferating omega 3 sites were associated with reactive glial cells and macrophages.

Ifenprodil and SL 82.0715 as cerebral anti-ischemic agents. I. Evidence for efficacy in models of focal cerebral ischemia.

Recent studies have strongly implicated the excitatory neurotransmitter glutamate in the cascade of pathological mechanisms that cause neuronal loss after certain types of brain ischemia. The neurotoxic effects of glutamate are mediated, at least in global ischemia, via NMDA receptors. In the present study we have examined the effects of compounds that possess NMDA receptor antagonist properties (ifenprodil, SL 82.