R. Fares & P. Champeroux, ERBC
FOB test and respiratory study in the same animal has become possible thanks to the miniaturized technology of jacketed telemetry for rats (DECRO)
The simultaneous assessment of modified Irwin’s or functional observational battery (FOB) test and respiratory (Resp) study in the same animal has become possible thanks to the miniaturized technology of jacketed telemetry for rats (DECRO). This combination can fulfill sections 2.7.1 and 2.7.3 of the safety-pharmacology core battery defined in the ICH S7A guideline, while reducing the overall number of animals and refining the practices. Full paper recently published in the Journal of Pharmacological and Toxicological Methods, available here.
Study: Performed at ERBC site (Baugy, France) on 24 rats divided into 4 groups, habituated and trained to the DECRO jacket and to the study set-up. Each rat received either a pharmacological compound (baclofen, cafeine or clonidine) or the vehicle. FOB was tested at fixed time points before and after dosing, while Resp was assessed continuously during 8h, covering all FOB time points.
Main results: Among the list of 58 observations used for the FOB test, only 3 were not performed by the observer, but of these 3, heart and respiratory rates were recorded by the jacket. Similar neurofunctional effects to those in the literature of the 3 reference compounds were measured, as well as expected effects on respiratory function and heart rate.
Perspectives: Thanks to the DECRO telemetric jacket, it is feasible to study simultaneously CNS and respiratory systems, heart rate and activity level, offering a great opportunity to improve scientific value since drug effects are frequently interconnected. This gives pharmacologists and toxicologists new perspective to apply the 3Rs principles in core battery GLP SP studies.