Policies

Policy on the Prolonged Restraint of Research Animals

Institutional Animal Care & Use Committee

Aug 5, 2024 12:00 am

This policy outlines the IACUCs expectations for the use of devices for physically restraining animals, defines “prolonged physical restraint”, and is intended to ensure that the use of devices for prolonged physical restraint is essential for achieving research objectives and that the period of restraint is the minimum required to accomplish the research objectives.

Background

Physical restraint of an animal for the purposes of obtaining samples, administering medication or accomplishing study objectives is an important component of many studies using research animals. In most cases, this period of limited mobility is short term. On occasion, a prolonged period of restraint may be required to achieve the project objectives.
Applicability

This policy is applicable to all vertebrate animal activities conducted under the auspices of the University, and applies to all campus locations under the purview of the U-M IACUC.
Glossary Definitions
Physical Restraint

The use of manual or mechanical means to limit some or all of an animal’s ability to make normal postural adjustments for the purpose of examination, collection of samples, drug administration, therapy, or experimental manipulation.¹

¹Institute for Laboratory Animal Research. Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals. 8th edition, (National Academies Press, Washington DC, 2011), pg. 29

Prolonged Physical Restraint

The U-M IACUC has defined prolonged physical restraint as the use of devices to physically restrain an animal for periods exceeding 30 minutes.

Restraint Devices

A device used to physically restrain an animal. Examples of devices used to physically restrain animals include, but are not limited to:

Chair

Mist Net

Rodent Restrainers (e.g., tube, Decapicone)

Sling (e.g., Panepinto)

Stall/Stanchion

Unconventional tethering - tethering that suspends the rear legs above the cage floor or short tethering that actually restricts movement

Wrap
Policy
The U-M IACUC has defined prolonged physical restraint as the use of devices to physically restrain an animal for periods exceeding 30 minutes. Prolonged physical restraint must be described in an approved IACUC protocol prior to use on animals.

In accordance with the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals:

Prolonged restraint should be avoided unless it is essential for achieving research objectives.

Restraint devices should be specifically designed to accomplish research goals that are impossible or impractical to accomplish by other means or to prevent injury to animals or personnel.

The presence of lesions, illness, or severe behavioral changes often necessitates the temporary or permanent removal of the animal from restraint. Veterinary care must be provided if lesions or illness associated with restraint are observed.

The purpose of the use of devices to physically restrain animals must be clearly explained to personnel involved with the study.
Compliance

The provisions of this policy are under the direction and oversight of the U-M’s IACUC. The IACUC will, if necessary, suspend research or implement sanctions if policy infractions should occur.

Questions?

For questions, additional detail, or to request changes to this policy, please contact the Office of the Assistant Vice President for Research, Director of the Animal Care & Use Office at [email protected] or (734) 763-8028.