Making progress and gaining momentum in global 3Rs efforts: how the European pharmaceutical industry is contributing.

Animal research together with other investigational methods (computer modeling, in vitro tests, etc) remains an indispensable part of the pharmaceutical research and development process. The European pharmaceutical industry recognizes the responsibilities inherent in animal research and is committed to applying and enhancing 3Rs principles. New nonsentient, ex vivo, and in vitro methods are developed every day and contribute to reducing and, in some instances, replacing in vivo studies.

ESLAV/ECLAM/LAVA/EVERI recommendations for the roles, responsibilities and training of the laboratory animal veterinarian and the designated veterinarian under Directive 2010/63/EU.

Directive 2010/63/EU was adopted in September 2010 by the European Parliament and Council, and became effective in January 2013. It replaces Directive 86/609/EEC and introduces new requirements for the protection of animals used for scientific purposes. In particular, it requires that establishments that breed, supply or use laboratory animals have a designated veterinarian (DV) with expertise in laboratory animal medicine, or a suitably qualified expert where more appropriate, charged with advisory duties in relation to the well-being and treatment of the animals.

Correlation between plasma Flt3-ligand concentration and hematopoiesis during G-CSF-induced CD34+ cell mobilization.

This study aimed to correlate blood Flt3-ligand (FL) concentration with CD34(+) cell number in blood and bone marrow (BM) during granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) mobilization. Nonhuman primates were injected with 10 microg/kg of G-CSF (Lenograstim) daily over a period of 5 days. Daily blood sampling and repeated BM sampling showed that FL concentration before mobilization was negatively correlated to the absolute number of BM CD34(+) cells, but also to the number of G-CSF-mobilized CD34(+) cells on days 3-5 of treatment.

Renal anemia induced by chronic ingestion of depleted uranium in rats.

Kidney disease is a frequent consequence of heavy metal exposure and renal anemia occurs secondarily to the progression of kidney deterioration into chronic disease. In contrast, little is known about effects on kidney of chronic exposure to low levels of depleted uranium (DU). Study was performed with rats exposed to DU at 40 mg/l by chronic ingestion during 9 months.

Human mesenchymal stem cells favour healing of the cutaneous radiation syndrome in a xenogenic transplant model.

It has been suggested that human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSC) could be used to repair numerous injured tissues. We have studied the potential use of hMSC to limit radiation-induced skin lesions. Immunodeficient NOD/SCID mice were locally irradiated to the leg (30 Gy, dose rate 2.