Nursing and training of pigs used in renal transplantation studies. (October 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Rydén, Anneli; Manell, Elin; Biglarnia, Alireza; Hedenqvist, Patricia; Strandberg, Gabriel; Ley, Charles; Hansson, Kerstin; Nyman, Görel; Jensen-Waern, Marianne
• Is Part Of: Laboratory animals. Volume 54:Number 5(2020)
• Page Start: 469
• Page End: 478
• Publication Date: 2020-10
• Subjects: swine -- urinary bladder -- indwelling catheter -- kidney transplantation; Animal experimentation -- Periodicals; Animal models in research -- Periodicals; Laboratory animals -- Periodicals; Animal welfare -- Periodicals; 636.0885
• DOI: 10.1177/0023677219879169
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0023-6772

Abstract

The pig is commonly used in renal transplantation studies since the porcine kidney resembles the human kidney. To meet the requirements of intense caretaking and examination without stress, a 2-week socialisation and training programme was developed. Conventional cross-breed pigs ( n = 36) with high health status were trained for 15 min/day in a four-step training programme before kidney transplantation. The systematic training resulted in calm animals, which allowed for ultrasound examination, blood sampling and urine sampling without restraint. When a 2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine polymer-coated jugular catheter introduced via the auricular vein was used for post-operative blood sampling, clotting was avoided. To assess renal function, urinary output was observed and creatinine and cystatin C were measured; the latter was not found to be useful in recently transplanted pigs. The results presented contribute to the 3Rs (refine, reduce, replace).