Abstract:According the current National standard for laboratory animal, herpes B virus antibody must be tested and negative for all the breed/tested macaques,howere,in fact the positive rate is around 60-70% in breeding colony. Being the National Standard, if it is too far from the reality of the filed, weighing and changing should be made. Hardness/crispness degree of laboratory animal diet never been considered as a listed value in the National Standard for Laboratory Animal to identify the quality of diet. In fact, this index affects a lot about daily diet intake and physiological status of laboratory animals. Hereby, the authors suggest to take the index into the National Standard, to assess the quality of laboratory animal diet in a more comprehensive way.

Abstract:The concept of "experimental animals" has been raised up, while we still need relevant laws and regulations on experimental animals. Accordingly, a potential safety hazard may occur when using these animals. Here we compare the content of the "Animal Epidemic Prevention Law of the People's Republic of China" and "Regulations for Experimental Animal Management", with the "Terrestrial Animal Health Code" issued by International Organisation for Animal Health (Office International des Epizooties,OIE), in order to provide some advice to completing the relevant laws in China.

Abstract:The term "specific pathogen free" (SPF) implies the bioexclusion of a defined list of organisms that can cause disease in a host. Due to many different factors including animal source, vivarium layout, microbiological history, engineering standards, operation practice, and experimental needs, the bioexclusion list tends to be specific for many institutions using live animals in biomedical research. As such, the design and implementation of institution-specific health monitoring program can also vary based on needs. By comparison, laboratory animal producers and users in China are subject to GB regulations which have established a national bioexclusion list based on animal health categories, as well as set detailed engineering standards for vivarium operations based on specific animal health profiles. In addition to summarizing the SPF list of major rodent vendors in North America, the purpose of this article is to bring attention to the different factors animal users should take into consideration when evaluating one's own bioexclusion list and designing institution-specific health monitoring program for laboratory mice and rats, in order to assure animal colony health and scientific integrity.

Abstract:Laboratory animal industry forms an independent, comprehensive system responsible for the production, use and management of laboratory animals. Great advances have been made in this field in China over the more than thirty years of development. However, due to the great development and changes during this long time, there are also some issues which need to be amended and changed. To compare the concepts of experimental animals in China and developed countries such as USA. The key concepts on the laboratory animals are not well or clearly defined in the regulatory documents in China, which hinder the healthy development and effective regulation in this field, as well as the care and use of laboratory animals in research and education. In this article, we discuss the necessity of timely amendment and standardization of the key concepts and definitions related to laboratory animals, and the importance and impact of the key concepts on the development of animal industry in China.

Abstract:Chemical disinfectants are generally used for virus inactivation and environment disinfection in biosafety laboratory, and the efficacy and evaluation of the disinfection are critical to ensure the laboratory biosafety. However, there is a current lack of applied standard to evaluate the virucidal efficacy of chemical disinfectants in our country. In this paper, a European Union standard "Method and Requirements of Virucidal Quantitative Suspension Test Method for Chemical Disinfectants Used in Human Medicine" was analyzed and a standard transformation scheme has been proposed. It is suggested that the model viruses should be increased from 3 to 6, including the surrogate viruses to substitute highly pathogenic viruses, and that the method to remove the residual chemical disinfectant and the calculation of 95% confidence interval should be incorporated into the standard. The suggestion will improve the scientific and operational standards related to disinfection and sterilization in biosafety laboratory in China.

Abstract:In this paper, some items about the microbes listed in the current National Standard of Laboratory Animals were reviewed, including their host spectrum, impact of infection on the animals, their interference on research works and their epidemiology in laboratory animals. This paper may provide some clues for the update of our National Standard of Laboratory Animals.

Abstract:Based on the analysis of the standards of bacteriological quality monitoring of laboratory animals in developed countries, this paper provides suggestion for modification of bacteriological quality monitoring of laboratory mice and rats in China.

Abstract:Based on the practice in laboratory animal monitoring, the following issues are suggested: (1) The core items and candidate items should be separated in the National Standard; (2) Hantaan virus and Ect virus should be omitted in the core list for mice; LCMV should be monitored as a candidate item for rats; TMEV should be listed as candidate item.

Abstract:Objective To establish a mouse model of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma induced by 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (7,12-DMBA)/croton oil and narrow-band ultraviolet B (NB-UVB) irradiation. Methods A total of fifty 6-8-week old BALB/c mice (male:female 1:1) were randomly divided into three experimental groups. The group A was treated with chemical carcinogens alone, group B was treated with NB-UVB alone, and group C was treated with chemical carcinogens plus NB-UVB. The general status and skin appearance of mice were observed during the experiment.The survival rate and tumor formation rate of each group was calculated at weeks 5, 10, 15, and 20. Pathological examination was carried out to observe the histological changes of skin lesions. Results Papules measuring ≥l mm in diameter began to develop in some mice of the group C at 5 weeks after the first treatment with chemical carcinogens. The tumor formation rates at 20 weeks after treatment were 86.67%, 7.14%, 94.12% in the groups A, B, C, respectively. Pathological examination revealed characteristic changes of squamous cell carcinoma in 13.34%, 0%, 70.59% of the mice in the group A, B, C, respectively. Conclusions Establishment of a mouse model of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma induced by 7,12-DMBA/croton oil and NB-UVB is a better method than treated with chemical carcinogens alone or NB-UVB alone. This method can increase the tumor formation rate and incidence rate of SCC, and within a shorter period.

Abstract:Objective To establish a method focusing on regulation of CNN3 gene in the rat hippocampus and help to explore the role of CNN3 gene played in the brain physiology and pathology. Methods One cDNA sequence and three shRNAs targeting CNN3 gene were designed and synthesized. The recombinant lentivirus-mediated expressing and three short hairpin RNA (shRNA) vectors targeting CNN3 gene in the rats were constructed with engineering technology. All recombinant vectors were intravenously injected into rats hippocampi guided by stereotaxic apparatus. Western blot was performed to explore the best shRNA and to study the changes of CNN3 gene in the rat hippocampus after transfection with the silence and over-expressed vectors. Results The lentivirus-mediated vector expressing CNN3-OE and three shRNA vectors targeting CNN3 gene were successfully constructed. Within eight weeks after transfection, the vectors of CNN3-OE and three CNN3-shRNAs changed the expression of CNN3 gene in the rat hippocampus, in particular, all the protein levels of calponin-3 encoded by CNN3 gene were significantly down-regulated along with the time, with the highest inhibitory rate of 73.6% in the CNN3-shRNA2 group. Significant up-regulation of calponin-3 protein level by 93.88%, was found only on the 14th day after transfection. Conclusions Lentivirus-mediated vectors of CNN3-OE and CNN3-shRNAs may regulate in vivo the CNN3 gene level in the local brain region of rats via stereotactic injection.The study lays a foundation for disease prevention and treatment in the future.

Abstract:Objective To investigate the neuroprotective effect of acupuncture combined with a Chinese medicine, Danhong injection, on focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury in rats. Methods Middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion was prepared by putting a nylon suture in the MCA. The MCA blood flow in the animals was restored at two hours after the MCA occlusion by withdrawing the suture to the external carotid artery (ECA). The acupoints "Baihui"(DU20) and "Zusanli"(ST36) were acupunctured and stimulated by twirling the acupuncture needle after reperfusion, and the rats were also administered with Danhong injection by intravenous injection, once every day for three days. Zea-Longa scores were recorded to assess the changes of neurological function. The rats were sacrificed at 72 h after reperfusion. Triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining was used to measure cerebral infarction size. Western blot was used to test the level of Bcl-2 and Bax in the ischemic penumbra. Results The acupuncture combined with Danhong injection treatment group displayed markedly lower neurologic deficit scores, reduced ischemic infarct surface, increased expression of Bcl-2 protein, and reduced expression of Bax protein, compared with those in the model group and Danhong injection alone group. Conclusions Acupuncture combined with Danhong injection show more significant neuroprotective effect than Danhong injection treatment alone on rat models of cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury.

Abstract:Objective The purpose of this study was to investigate the reproductive characteristics of indoor-housed Meriones meridianus. Methods According to the data of Meriones meridianus from 1996 to 2002 in the Center for Laboratory Animal research of Xinjiang, the sexual maturity period of male and female animals, the gestation period of female animals, the litter size, weaning rate, survival rate, sex ratio per month and different fetal times were statistically analyzed. Results Sexual maturity period of male and female animals was 109.3±21.0 days and 106.3±21.7 days, and gestation period of female animals was 21.3±1.4 days. The litter size, weaning rate of different fetal times showed no significant difference compared between those of the first to seventh litter (P>0.05), and the survival rate of fourth and sixth litter were lower than that of the average offspring per litter, but the difference was no significant (P>0.05). The sex ratio of from first to sixth litter indicated no significant difference (P>0.05), and the average proportion of male and female was 1.4:1.0. During a year, the animals almost stopped to reproduce from September to November, however, the differences of litter size between the other months were statistically not significant (P>0.05), the weaning rate and survival rate per month suggested a significant difference (P<0.05) between some of the months. Conclusions Compared with the background data of wild Meriones meridianus, the laboratory reproduction of Meriones meridianus show some differences, mainly, the season of breeding is shifted to December, and the number of reproduction increased by one or two litters. Our results provide useful reference for laboratory animalization of Meriones meridianus.

Abstract:Objective To explore the functional mechanism of a Chinese medicine compound "Qiangzhizufang" on rat model of Tourette syndrome (TS) combined with fear. Methods The rat model of TS combined with fear was established by intraperitoneal injection of 3,3'-iminodipropionitrile (IDPN) combined with acoustic stimulation. After giving different drug lavage treatment, the changes of behavior of the rat models were assessed by field test and behavior test. The content of DA, TH and TH mRNA in the brain tissue was detected by HPLC, immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR, separately. Results Compared with the normal control group, stereotyped behavior and exercise behavior were increased, freezing time prolonged, but the content of DA, TH and TH mRNA in the brain tissue were not obviously changed in the model control group. Compared with the model control group, the stereotyped behavior and exercise behavior were decreased, content of DA, TH and TH mRNA in the brain tissue was decreased in the "Qiangzhizufang" group. Conclusions The Chinese medicine compound "Qiangzhizufang" can improve the behavior in rat models of TS combined with fear. This effect may be realized through down-regurating TH mRNA expression, reducing the content of TH, and reducing the dopamine synthesis.

Abstract:Objective To isolate and identify canine parainfluenza virus (CPIV) from the a dog suspected of CPIV infection, then to analyze the gene sequence variation of N,HN and F genes and provide a molecular biology basis for the diagnosis, treatment, prevention and control of CPIV infection. Methods Samples of the lung tissue was taken from a dead dog suspected of CPIV infection, and were inoculated into Vero cells. CPE were observed after three blind passages, then the cell culture fluid after 72-hour-cultuere was assayed for further PCR identification, blood coagulation characteristics and morphological observation. Moreover, 3 pairs of oligonucleotide primers were designed, and N, HN and F complete genes of CPIV were amplified by RT-PCR from positive CPIV culture fluid. The genetic variation of the three genes were further analyzed by biological software, and phylogenetic trees were produced. Results One strain of CPIV was isolated and named QF20100726. The results showed that the CPIV strain could agglutinate Guinea pig, pig,chicken and human o type blood cells,and had the basic ultrastructural chatacteristics of parainfluenza virus. Compared with 10 representative CPIV genes, N, HN and F gene phylogenetic analysis of the QF20100726 CPIV gene showed 95.7% to 99.8%, 94.7% to 99.6% and 94.7% to 99.6% nucleotide identity, respectively, and 97.4% to 99.6%, 96.3 to 99.6%, 95.6% to 99.3% amino acid identity, respectively. Of these aa substitutions, 2 substitutions (V208A, A301T) occurred in the N open reading frame (ORF), and 2 substitutions (T56S, T89M) occurred in the F open reading frame (ORF). Conclusions One strain QF20100726 of CPIv is successfully isolated, and the phylogenetic trees of N, HN and F genes from the QF20100726 CPIV strain show close phylogenetic relationship with other CPIV isolates. The data provide a valuable molecular biology basis for the studies on prevention and control of CPIV infection.

Abstract:Micronucleus (MN) assay as a routine examination for genotoxicity has been widely used. The testing specimens were taken from bone marrow and extended from blood and tissues. In addition to testing genotoxicity of drugs, it is also applied in disease diagnosis for genetic mutation, evaluation of curative effectiveness and disease prevention. Moreover, MN assay is also an important safety indicator for drugs and health foods registration. This review will discuss the staining method of MN test and its application in the field of diseases and virology.

Abstract:The outbreaks of Zika virus infection in different regions of the world underscore the potential for the virus to spread further in the Americas and beyond. Zika is a mosquito-borneFlavivirusand is transmitted by Aedes spp. mosquitoes.It is has been reported recently that Zika virus intrauterine infection causes fetal brain abnormality and microcephaly, and WHO encourages pregnant women in countries at risk MUST protecting themselves from mosquito bites. Until now, there is no imported case in China. We have established resource and technology storage to reply to the potentialZika cases in the future, therefore, people do not need to panic in China.