Unbridle biomedical research from the laboratory cage

Lahvis, Garet P.

doi:10.7554/elife.27438

Cited by 36 publications

(25 citation statements)

References 104 publications

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“…While we will never know the developmental histories of individuals that come to TMMC, we can be certain they experienced decision-making opportunities and consequences for their decisions-conditions not afforded to experimental animals living under highly constrained caged conditions with no opportunity for cognitive or affective development (Lahvis, 2016(Lahvis, , 2017a. Life-long captivity of laboratory rodents and primates inside cages and corrals can promote abnormalities that are widespread across biological systems (Lahvis, 2017b). While our observations mark only a small step toward more rigorous study of recovering sea lion social behavior, they serve as a foundation for future studies of complex social interaction in this remarkably intelligent species (see Kastak et al, 2001).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Social Interactions of Stranded and Recovering Immature California Sea Lions (Zalophus californianus)

Meyer¹,

Rickert²,

Pearce³

et al. 2017

Aquat Mamm

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coast where they are treated and released. The largest of these centers, The Marine Mammal Center Hundreds of California sea lions (Zalophus cali-(TMMC), is located in the Marin County Headlands, fornianus) strand along the Pacific coast of North just north of San Francisco. Veterinarians and vol-America each year. They are treated for a variety unteers at TMMC treat pinnipeds for a variety of of conditions at marine mammal clinics along the diseases, including infection with viral and bacterial coast, including malnutrition, physical trauma, pathogens, malnutrition, physical injury, and expoinfections, and toxicosis. The largest clinic is The sure to neurotoxins. Marine Mammal Center (TMMC) in the Marin Strandings of California sea lions (Zalophus County Headlands just north of San Francisco californianus) often exceed 100 individuals per where sea lions can reside for weeks to months year with occasional years marked by large spikes before release. Assessment of illness and recovery (Greig et al., 2005). Between 2002 and 2012, 5,660 can be difficult. Since healthy sociality is sensi-sea lions were admitted to TMMC, of which 2,139 tive to developmental impairment and illness, were released; 40 recovered but were placed in understanding of typical social interactions would facilities; and 3,408 were either picked up as caraid in the assessment of overall recovery. To gain casses, died on arrival, or were euthanized. A total insight to the social behavior of captive California of 1,256 juveniles were treated at TMMC of which sea lions, we examined the behaviors of recovering 714 died, 532 were released, eight were relocated, immature individuals at TMMC. We found that the and two were placed in facilities. Malnourished sea lions in male pens were generally more physi-juveniles totaled 188 individuals; and during our cally active, expressing more approach interactions study period (July to November 2012), 25 of these and coordinated swimming per day. The sea lions malnourished individuals were treated at TMMC. in mixed-sex pens fluctuated in activity, with the In addition to malnourishment, sea lions come to level of activity decreasing as the day went on; TMMC with injuries from physical trauma; viral while the sea lions in male pens maintained simi-and bacterial pathogens (such as leptospirosis); high lar levels of activity all day. These findings offer a body burdens of anthropogenic compounds (such foundation for more rigorous studies of the social as PCBs and perfluorinated octane sulphonate); or neurobiology of recovering California sea lions. exposure to domoic acid, a neurotoxin produced by algae, most commonly a species of Pseudo-nitzchia

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Social Interactions of Stranded and Recovering Immature California Sea Lions (Zalophus californianus)

Meyer¹,

Rickert²,

Pearce³

et al. 2017

Aquat Mamm

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“…However, captive conditions have little in common with the natural habitat of every single species used in research. For example, Lahvis (2017) points out that the floor area in a standard mouse cage is 280,000-times smaller than the animal's natural home range. For rhesus macaques, he calculated it is 7 million-fold smaller.…”

Section: 2mentioning

confidence: 99%

Refinement on the Way Towards Replacement: Are We Doing What We Can?

Herrmann¹

2019

Animal Experimentation: Working Towards a Paradigm Change

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“…With next to nothing to learn inside a standard lab cage, lacking any challenges to be overcome, this unnatural and modest level of neuronal stimulation could mitigate some of the potential for the hyper-excitatory effects of this neurotoxin. Recommended here is that future studies of the effects of DA exposure on rodents use complex home environment settings that allow research animals to roam freely in under naturalistic conditions that offer species-relevant challenges [88]. In these kinds of environments, we expect DA exposure have more pronounced excitotoxic effects.…”

Section: Toxicity Of Domoic Acidmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Laboratory cages offer their inhabitants vastly diminished living spaces compared to what they are naturally designed to navigate in the wild. While the biology and behaviors of caged laboratory animals bear resemblance to those of humans, the full capacity of their biological systems is blunted when compared to the resilience and complexity expressed by free-roaming conspecifics [88]. We know, for example, that even a small increase in cage size can lead to vast changes in brain anatomy and behavior, changes that are likely the result of epigenetic responses to cage environments [89].…”

Section: Toxicity Of Domoic Acidmentioning

confidence: 99%

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What California sea lions exposed to domoic acid might teach us about autism: lessons for predictive and preventive medicine

Lahvis

2017

EPMA Journal

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Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) shares many biological and behavioral similarities with the deleterious effects of domoic acid (DA) exposure. DA is produced by marine algae and most commonly by species of Pseudo-nitzschia. Humans and marine mammals can be exposed to DA when they consume whole fish or shellfish. The mammalian fetus is highly sensitive to the deleterious effects of DA exposure. Both ASD and exposures to toxic levels of DA feature repetitive behaviors, challenges with social interaction, and seizures. They can also share a commonality in brain anatomy and function, particularly the balance between excitatory and inhibitory mechanisms. The current article is relevant to predictive, preventive, and personalized medicine for three reasons. First, shellfish consumption may be a risk factor for ASD and the regulatory limit for DA should be adjusted to prevent this possibility. Human contributions to increased algal production of DA in coastal waters should be identified and reduced. Second, evaluations of sentinel species wild and free-roaming in the environment, though typically outside the purview of biomedical research, should be much more fully employed to gain insights to risk factors for human disease. To better identify and prevent disease, biomedical researchers shouldstudy wildpopulations.Third, studies of DA exposure highlight the possibility that glutamate additives to processed foods may also have deleterious impacts on human brain development and behavior.Keywords Domoic acid . Autism spectrum disorder . Glutamate . Behavior . Anatomy . Brain . Development . Predictive diagnosis . Targeted prevention . Population screening Autism and its prevalenceAutism spectrum disorder (ASD) is often diagnosed early in childhood and features deficits in social interaction and communication and includes repetitive behaviors and circumscribed interests [1,2]. The prevalence of autism is more common among boys than girls [3] and has increased substantially over the past 20 years [3,4]. ASD is the most highly heritable developmental disability yet researchers have identified only a few genetic susceptibility factors [5][6][7][8][9][10] that can account for a small fraction of the diagnosed population [10].

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Unbridle biomedical research from the laboratory cage

Cited by 36 publications

References 104 publications

Social Interactions of Stranded and Recovering Immature California Sea Lions (Zalophus californianus)

Social Interactions of Stranded and Recovering Immature California Sea Lions (Zalophus californianus)

Refinement on the Way Towards Replacement: Are We Doing What We Can?

What California sea lions exposed to domoic acid might teach us about autism: lessons for predictive and preventive medicine

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