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Understanding Animal Research provides plenty of information to keep you up-to-date with news and comment about animal research. We cover the major media stories, research advances, health & medicine, politics, antivivisection campaigns and animal rights protests.
- 04
- FEB
Old mice have had their bone marrow rejuvenated after receiving blood supplies from younger mice, a new study has revealed.
During the ageing process fewer cells are fully repaired or replaced. This can lead to muscle damage, bone deterioration and irregular production of blood cells. In particular the bone marrow ‘niche stem cells' can be affected and cannot fulfil their role in nourishing and creating new blood cells.
- Journal: Nature
- DOI: 10.1038/nature08749
- Publication date: 1 Feb 10
- 03
- FEB
Posted by Emu under blog's category : Policy Issues
This month has seen publication of the long-awaited Hampton Implementation Review Report for the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Division and Inspectorate.
The review examines the work of the Animal Sceintific Procedures Division (ASPD) and Inspectorate (ASPI), which are both part of the Home Office's Science and Research Group (SRG). Throughout the report the organisation as a whole is referred to as ASP). We believe the Review provides positive guidelines for the Home Office to take forward in future.
The Review is part of a national process which looks at the work of 36 regulators. The Reports assess how well regulators are following the principles set out by Sir Philip Hampton in 2005. The Hampton principles cover better regulation and encourage best practice by increasing openness and transparency, highlighting areas for development, and spreading good practice to other regulators.
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- 01
- FEB
Symptoms of depression caused by an inflammatory response could be alleviated by a new treatment, a study on rats has shown.
An estimated 15% of people in the UK will go through a period of severe depression during their lifetime, and the condition can affect any age.
- Journal: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
- DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0910658107
- Publication date: 26 Jan 10
- 28
- JAN
Skin cells have been transformed directly into functioning brain cells for the first time in a new study using mice.
Previously scientists believed that adult cells first needed to revert back to stem cells in order to take on a new function. Now researchers have been able to directly change skin cells into nerve cells, bypassing the time-consuming stem cell stage. The nerve cells could potentially be used in therapeutic treatments for Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease.
- Journal: Nature
- DOI: 10.1038/nature08797
- Publication date: 28 Jan 10
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