Remembrance for the Animals Used In the Labs at The Ohio State University

Thirty-seven (37) primates

Reported by OSU on Nov. 11, 2003 to USDA/APHIS

 

March 11, 2004 - Seven non-human primates, cynomologus or long-tailed macaques (Macaca fasicularis), are delivered to OSU from Battelle Memorial Institute. Battelle had received the animals from Covance. Covance is a global company involved in all aspects of animal experimentation - from animal supplier to contractor for animal testing. To learn more about this company please visit the British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection (BUAV) website, Inside Covance.

The primates will be entering protocol 02A0162 - Islet Isolation and Allotransplantation in Non-Human Primates. The principal investigator is Amer Rajab. The OSU ILACUC has approved the use of 40 primates to practice procedures for islet transplantation.

Five of the primates will be used for "practicing of our isolation technique." The pancreas will be removed and the primate euthanized. For the allotransplanation, six primates will be donors and six primates will be the recipients.

To artificially create the diabetic primate, a chemical approach is taken. The compound streptozotocin, which is known to destroy the islet cells, will be injected. (Primate 14470) After a streptozotocin injection, transient vomiting will occur. Injected systemically, streptozotocin also causes complications to the animal's liver and kidneys.

The primates will be acclimated to a jacket/tether 1 week prior to the transplantation surgery, and will be in the jackets for up to 6 weeks.

At 6 weeks, the experiment will be terminated and any animals who have maintained the transplanted islets will be euthanized. The primates will also be removed from the study if blood glucose levels indicate rejection.

The study begins:
Primate ID#
Covance to Battelle
Battelle to OSU
Date Primate Killed
15057-M
1/29/02
2/7/03
2/29/03-terminal procedure
14770-M
1/22/02
2/7/03
3/11/03-terminal procedure
15179-M
1/29/02
2/7/03
2/19/03-terminal procedure
14728-F
1/29/02
2/7/03
3/13/03-pancreas removed
14487-F
2/7/03
3/17/03-pancreas removed
14470-F
2/7/03
3/20/03*
14730-F
1/29/02
2/7/03
3/17/03-pancreas removed

Primate# 15057 and 14770 were housed together at Battelle.
Primate# 15179 somehow lost a finger tip while at Battelle. It was noted that no bone was exposed and the finger healed well.
Earlier notations indicated several skin punctures and lacerations of the back, rear limbs and tail due to bite wounds.
This animal is housed alone.
Primate 14728 and 14487 were housed together at Battelle. 14428 noted probably a bite wound on finger tip. At OSU the animal medical records indicates they separated the females as primate 14487 appeared to be stressed and have wounds from pair-housed mate.
At Battelle it is note primate 14730 has a history of getting arms stuck through cage grate.

Primate 14470 was turned into a diabetic animal. Islet cells were injected into this animal. Later it is noted that the islet transplant is not producing insulin. 3/20/03 terminal procedure.

Nineteen additional animals have arrived from Battelle to be used in this experiment. We have requested additional data concerning the status of these animals. To date OSU has not yet provided the information.

It should be noted the procedures for islet transplantation are documented in humans and are offered at 14 centers around the United States to patients selected under strict criteria.