ATLA::Alternatives to Laboratory Animals

Volume 23, Number 5

Present and future prospects for using alternatives to chimpanzees in research.

ATLA 23, 634-641, September/October 1995

Gill Langley

Dr. Hardwen Trust for Humane Research, 22 Bancroft, Hichin, Hertfordshire SG5 1JW, UK

SUMMARY

Three chimpanzee studies of hepatitis C infection were found to be duplicative of each other and of research with human volunteers. Research into taste neurophysiology also used chimpanzees, although data which are highly relevant (but less specific) can be obtained from human studies. The use of chimps to study benzene metabolism was found to be poorly planned and unjustifiable. Scientifically chimps are not always the best "models" for humans, and their use raises insurmountable ethical concerns. Many alternatives are already available, but researchers will need to adjust their perspectives on the usefulness of different types of data.

Keywords: chimpanzees, hepatitis C, alternatives, species differences, human studies