To replace animal experiments for the risk assessment in cutaneous absorption European and Non-European regulatory authorities urge to develop in vitro test systems. A variety of methods have been established, which however vary in several respects, such as the nature of the barrier and used media. Since both affect drug uptake we have compared the influence of albumin (BSA) in the acceptor medium on the permeation and metabolism of highly lipophilic steroidal drugs, testosterone and prednicarbate (PC). Surprisingly, the addition of BSA to the acceptor medium slightly reduced the steroid permeation, especially when formulations of poor PC uptake were tested. Moreover, with slow drug permeation the metabolite pattern changed as compared to PC metabolites to be found in albumin-free acceptor medium. This was clearly less the case with PC incorporated into newly developed solid lipid nanoparticles accelerating PC uptake about fourfold. The penetration of testosterone was not influenced by BSA in the acceptor medium.
Summarising, these results contribute essentially to the development of appropriate in vitro methods for testing of the cutaneous absorption of drugs, ingredients of cosmetics and for the risk assessment of xenobiotics, pesticides and biozides.

For licensing the efficacy of vaccines for veterinary use has to be demonstrated by well-controlled laboratory experiments in which vaccinated and untreated animals of the target species are challenged. Erysipelas challenge tests cause extreme suffering of the unprotected animals with high fever, apathy, large skin lesions, and even death.
This paper describes a standardised procedure for the vaccination challenge test and gives due consideration to the welfare of the animals. By monitoring and using clinical signs observed during the test it is possible to minimise animal pain and distress, thus preventing unnecessary animal suffering.

Aim: Animal protection laws will lead to stricter and more selective criteria thus resulting in a decline of available animals. Yet to train cardiac surgical skills a totally artificial training model was developed.
Description of training model: The model is based on differently hardened polyurethane. Cover is a 1:1 replica of the human thoracic wall. Disposable coronaries are integrated in the heart-model. Vessels and part of the ascending aorta can be rinsed. By means of a newly designed air-pump stroke volume, heart-rate and rhythm can be adjusted.
Experiences: Set-up of the model is easy and quick. Accustomed instruments can be used. Handling of artificial tissue is nature-like. Degree of difficulty is dependent on stroke volume, heart rate, arrhythmia, vessel-size and vessel-quality.
Conclusion: The phantom helps to achieve confidence in coronary revascularisation. It facilitates an accompanying training for the less-trained as well as the skilled surgeon. The nature-like characteristics will help to reduce animal experiments in future.

During the last ten years the extraction of specific antibodies (ab) from the yolk of eggs of immunised chickens is more and more accepted as an useful alternative to the immunisation of mammals. The subject of this work is the immunisation of chickens with human IgG and the extraction of specific anti human IgG ab from egg yolk in order to obtain monospecific Coombs reagent. 12 Leghorn hens (25 weeks old) were immunised with intact human IgG (INTACGLOBIN®). The chickens were immunised with 100 µg IgG/animal once per week for a period of seven weeks. The highest titre was observed after the 5th immunisation, the following immunisations achieved no further titre increase. The IgY purification was performed according to the method of Akita and Nakai (1993). The resulting IgY preparation was tested for the presence of hetero-agglutinine by means of direct agglutination using human erythrocytes of all blood groups. Thereafter 58 blood donors were tested by means of direct or indirect Coombs-test using a reference reagent (DAKO) and a Coombs reagent isolated from chicken eggs (IgY antibodies). No differences have been found between the results obtained using both Coombs reagents. Presented results show that there is a possibility to produce Coombs-reagent in chickens. Advantages of this method are: 1) non invasive antibody sampling by egg collection instead of bleeding the animal (refinement of antibody production); 2) decreasing amount of animals necessary to produce high amounts of reagent; 3) IgY-preparation contains no hetero-agglutinine in contrast to serum ab from mammals, therefore additional step in reagent production e.g. the absorption of hetero-agglutinins is not necessary.

CORNERS
ECVAM
MEGAT

NEWS
D: Tierversuchsstatistik 2001
D: Aktuelles aus den Erlanger Nachrichten: An der Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg wird ein Refinement-Lehrstuhl eingerichtet
EU: EU-Kosmetikpolitik: Durchbruch abgeschminkt
EU: EU-Parlament fordert bei Tierversuchen höhere Mindeststandards
EU/USA: InterNICHE-Preise für südost-europäische Universitätsinstitute
S: Nordic prize for alternatives to animal experiments 2002
USA: CAAT grants program für the period 2004-2005

CONFERENCE REPORTS
New Orleans: 4WC - Impressionen
Formia: INVITOX 2002
Berlin: Konzepte zum Tierschutzunterricht an Schulen

BOOK REVIEWS
Der Brockhaus: Naturwissenschaft und Technik
Organlieferant Tier? Medizin- und tierethische Probleme der Xenotransplantation
Comfortable quarters for laboratory animals

COMMENTS
Kay Brune: Selbstversuche und in vitro Forschung reichen nicht aus: Ein Plädoyer für mehr "Refinement". Replik auf zwei Kommentare in ALTEX 4/2002, Kommentar in englisch (pdf)
Irmela Ruhdel: Versuchstierstatistik Deutschland: 2 Millionenmarke überschritten
Silke Bitz: Der "Abwassergebührenfisch" muss weiter sterben
Thomas Braunbeck: Ergänzender Kommentar zur Einführung des Fischeitests
Erwin Kessler: Zum Literaturbericht von Gotthard M. Teutsch in ALTEX 4/2002: Boykott von Lederwaren

CALENDAR