ALAT Anesthesia and Analgesia in Laboratory Animals 3

Question 1

What is the primary rationale for providing adequate analgesia to laboratory animals undergoing painful procedures?

Accepted Answer

To relieve suffering as an ethical obligation and preserve physiological homeostasis that affects data quality

Answer

To reduce noise from vocalizing animals in the facility

Answer

To reduce the quantity of anesthetic agent needed for the procedure

Answer

To make handling and restraint easier for the animal care technician

Question 2

Which class of analgesics primarily reduces pain by inhibiting cyclooxygenase (COX) enzymes and prostaglandin synthesis?

Accepted Answer

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)

Answer

Opioids

Answer

Local anesthetics

Answer

Alpha-2 adrenergic agonists

Question 3

Which validated tool is used to assess pain in mice based on facial action units?

Accepted Answer

Mouse Grimace Scale (MGS)

Answer

Numerical Rating Scale (NRS)

Answer

Visual Analog Scale (VAS)

Answer

Composite Pain Scale (CPS)

Question 4

Buprenorphine is pharmacologically classified as which type of opioid receptor ligand?

Accepted Answer

Partial mu-opioid receptor agonist

Answer

Full mu-opioid receptor agonist

Answer

Pure opioid receptor antagonist

Answer

Kappa-opioid receptor agonist only

Question 5

What does the 'Refinement' component of the 3Rs principle specifically address in the context of animal research?

Accepted Answer

Improving procedures to minimize pain, distress, and suffering in animals used

Answer

Replacing animal models with computer simulations

Answer

Reducing the total number of animals used in an experiment

Answer

Refining statistical methods to extract more data per animal

Question 6

What is the key advantage of a pre-emptive analgesic approach compared to treating pain after it develops?

Accepted Answer

It prevents central sensitization and reduces the overall analgesic requirement

Answer

It eliminates the need for anesthesia during minor procedures

Answer

It is less expensive than post-procedure analgesic administration

Answer

It allows the procedure to be completed more quickly

Question 7

Which combination of assessments provides the most comprehensive pain evaluation in laboratory rodents?

Accepted Answer

Multiple parameters including grimace scales, posture, activity level, food/water intake, and body weight

Answer

Body weight alone measured daily

Answer

Wheel-running activity as the single outcome measure

Answer

Vocalization frequency as the primary indicator