Guidance for the Description of Animal Research in Scientific Publications

Abstract

The publication of research articles involving animal studies is central to many disciplines in science and biomedicine. Effective descriptions in such publications enable researchers to interpret the data, evaluate and replicate findings, and move the science forward. To promote the inclusion of sufficient information in publications on animal studies, 1 the National Research Council's Institute for Laboratory Animal Research (ILAR) appointed a committee of experts in laboratory animal research and scientific publishing to provide guidance for journal editors, authors, and reviewers. Supported by private funding and other grants, the committee was charged as follows: [To] prepare a short report aimed at editors of journals that publish animal studies. The report will outline the information that should be included in scientific papers regarding the animal studies to ensure that the study can be replicated. The extent of the needed information will be determined by the committee, but will include for example, conditions of housing and husbandry, genetic nomenclature, microbial status, detailed experimental manipulations and handling and use of pharmaceuticals. Evidence-based rationale for the need to include this information will be presented. 1 Including studies that use cells and tissues derived from animals for ex vivo and in vitro research. 2 The guiding principles for ethical animal research are the "three Rs"-reduction in the number of animals used, refinement of procedures to reduce animal stress and pain, and replacement of animals when possible (Russell and Burch 1959).

A Study to Assess the Quality of Reporting of Animal Research Studies Published in PubMed Indexed Journals: A Retrospective, Cross-Sectional Content Analysis

“…The use of the term SPF and determining pathogen exclusion status in genetically engineered laboratory rats are particularly difficult. These animals are vulnerable to immune function dysregulation, which might result in sensitivity to opportunistic infections and hence impact study outcomes [1].…”

“…Multiple factors in the animal facility can influence study results, and not all of them can be covered in detail in the materials and methods section. However, at a minimum, the description in the materials and methods section can specify the type of diet, housing, bedding, water, and general environmental parameters (e.g., temperature, humidity, lighting) with appropriate ranges [1].…”

“…Additional relevant details regarding animals and disease model desirable to be stated in the manuscript are the rationale for the procedure, including acclimatization prior to experiments, the rationale for selecting the species for studying the disease/pathological process, whether the intervention being studied is intended for therapeutic or prophylactic use, if the animals were drug naïve or if any previous procedure was done [4,9,15]. In scenarios wherein the animals have been used in more than one study, it is essential to specify the nature of previous use, explaining how the animals were chosen for reuse and assigned to the current study [1].…”

“…The description of habituation methods such as acclimatization is crucial in animal research as transportation from one place to another can be stressful for animals, and they need to be kept in a stable environment for a certain period so that they get stabilized in the novel environment prior to conducting any experimental procedure. Failure to become accustomed to the research setting, experimental procedures, and equipment can significantly impact study results [1,4,15].…”

“…Research in science and biomedicine relies highly on preliminary animal experimental studies and investigations. Appropriate descriptions in such studies enable researchers to interpret the data effectively, evaluate and replicate findings, addressing the gaps in knowledge, consequently leading to the advancement of science [1]. Data extrapolated from this research aims to provide a rationale for the hypotheses studied by clinical researchers and epidemiologists.…”