Critical evaluation of the use of dogs in biomedical research and testing in Europe.

Dogs are sometimes referred to as "man's best friend" and with the increase in urbanization and lifestyle changes, dogs are seen by their owners as family members. Society expresses specific concerns about the experimental use of dogs, as they are sometimes perceived to have a special status for humans. This may appear somewhat conflicting with the idea that the intrinsic value of all animals is the same, and that also several other animal species are used in biomedical research and toxicology.

Size distribution of adipocytes and variation in adipocyte number in lines of mice selected for high or low body fat.

1. Adipocyte size and number were measured in epididymal fat pads from lines of mice selected for high or low body fat. 2.

Effects of exogenous growth hormone on growth and body composition in genetically selected mice.

The effects of exogenous GH on growth and body composition were investigated in lines of mice selected for high or low body weight (P-lines) or high or low body fat (F-lines). Mice from all lines were given daily injections of recombinant bovine GH or a placebo for 21 days from 4 weeks old. They were killed and various organ weights measured.

Rates of lipogenesis and plasma insulin concentrations in inbred lines of mice differing in fatness.

Rates of lipogenesis de novo and plasma concentrations of insulin were compared during post-natal growth in two inbred lines of mice (VL/fDk (VL) and SWR/fNIMR (SWR] in which differences in growth and fatness are probably due to multiple not single gene effects. Irrespective of sex, the lipogenic rate/g was higher in the fatter VL mice in the liver and all other tissues except the head, where it was lower, and the gonadal fat pad, where it was not different. Adult mice in general had lower lipogenic rates than those measured soon after weaning.

Antilipogenic but not lipolytic effects of recombinant DNA-derived bovine somatotropin treatment on ovine adipose tissue; variation with genetic type.

1. Lambs from three breeds (East Friesland, Oxford and Texel) were treated with recombinant DNA-derived bovine somatotropin (BST) at 0.05, 0.