UT Southwestern IACUC Policy                                     IACUC # 121

Approval Date:_8/30/06__                                           1 of 1

Xenopus Oocyte Collections

Rationale:

The Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare (OLAW) requires scientific justification for multiple survival surgeries performed on any animal used for research or teaching. Multiple survival surgeries performed on a single animal may be justified if it results in a reduction in the total number of animals used. An individual frog can serve as a source of thousands of oocytes over its two to three year reproductive lifetime. IACUC recognizes that multiple oocyte harvests from an individual frog will reduce the total number of animals used and will likely enhance the quality of research by allowing multiple harvests from an animal that produces abundant, high quality oocytes. However, the reduction in the number of animals used must be balanced with the need to minimize pain and distress of the animal. To accomplish this, the IACUC has developed the following policy for harvesting frog oocytes by a surgical ovarian biopsy.

Policy:

• Surgeries must be performed by trained personnel using appropriate anesthesia such as tricane methane-sulfonate (MS-222). Surgeries must be done as aseptically as practical including the use of sterilized instruments.
• The total number of biopsies must be limited and will depend on the age and condition of the animal and the number and quality of oocytes collected. Up to five recovery surgeries are allowed with the sixth biopsy being terminal.
• Adequate recovery time should be allowed between laparotomies. The minimal interval between survival surgical procedures must be no less than one month.
• Each subsequent ovarian biopsy must be performed on the contralateral side such that oocyte collection alternates between the right and left ovaries.
• The animals must be identified appropriately so that the frequency and number of procedures per frog can be tracked. For assistance with identification methods, please contact an ARC veterinarian.
• Skin sutures or wound clips must be removed by three weeks after surgery unless veterinary approval has been obtained.
• Each animal should be housed in a separate tank for at least 24 hours post surgery. Frogs must be monitored daily during this period for appetite as well as for any complications such as dehiscence or infection. Such adverse effects require veterinary consultation and possible euthanasia.
• Records must be maintained to ensure that proper care and use is occurring. Record keeping must include the number of surgeries per animal and a description of post-operative care.

Applicability:

This policy applies to all Xenopus used for oocyte collection.

Exceptions:

Exceptions to this policy must have approval by the IACUC.

Resources:

Additional information on the care and use of Xenopus can be obtained at http//:www.xenopus.com/links.

Contact Information:

For any additional questions, please contact the IACUC Manager at 5-6420.