Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Foreword
- Preface
- List of abbreviations
- 1 Introduction
- 2 Regulatory requirements
- 3 Animals: sources, selection, husbandry
- 4 Standard studies in animals
- 5 Measurements and observations made in living animals
- 6 Terminal studies
- 7 Specialised routes of exposure
- 8 Reproductive toxicology
- 9 Genotoxicity
- Appendix 1 Toxicology data requirements for clinical trial approval and registration of new drugs
- Appendix 2 Countries and addresses of regulatory agencies
- Index
6 - Terminal studies
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 04 August 2010
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Foreword
- Preface
- List of abbreviations
- 1 Introduction
- 2 Regulatory requirements
- 3 Animals: sources, selection, husbandry
- 4 Standard studies in animals
- 5 Measurements and observations made in living animals
- 6 Terminal studies
- 7 Specialised routes of exposure
- 8 Reproductive toxicology
- 9 Genotoxicity
- Appendix 1 Toxicology data requirements for clinical trial approval and registration of new drugs
- Appendix 2 Countries and addresses of regulatory agencies
- Index
Summary
NECROPSY
At the end of treatment, usually 24 hours after the last dose, the experimental animals (controls as well as those treated with the test material) are given a final thorough examination for any external abnormalities and then killed. The method used to kill the animals depends upon the species on test. Rats and mice are usually deeply anaesthetised by exposure to CO2 gas or an overdose of diethylether vapour, while larger animals such as dogs and monkeys may be sedated with acetyl promazine before being anaesthetised by an overdose of intravenously administered sodium pentabarbitone solution. When it is certain that the animals are deeply anaesthetised and insensitive to pain, i.e. cessation of palpebral reflex (in normal conscious animals if the area around the upper eyelid is gently touched the animal will blink; however, in deeply anaesthetised animals this reflex disappears), they are usually exsanguinated. In rats, mice and in some monkeys this can be accomplished by using a syringe to withdraw the blood, usually via the posterior vena cava, whereas dogs are usually exsanguinated through the axillary blood vessels.
Once the animal is dead it is subjected to a port-mortem examination when the organs and body cavities are given a thorough macroscopic examination for signs of drug-induced and/or spontaneous lesions. (When conducting a necropsy it is sensible to have a summary of in-life observations available, since such records can often prove useful in identifying lesions.)
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- A Practical Approach to Toxicological Investigations , pp. 87 - 100Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 1989