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Laboratory Animal Necropsy or:

How to get the most out of your mouse or rat?

One-Day-Course on Necropsy Techniques 24.02.2011; 9:00 to 17:00

Course Leader: Giovanni Pellegrini, DVM

Venue: Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki

Organised by the Finnish Centre for Laboratory Animal Pathology

(FCLAP)

The Finnish Centre for Laboratory Animal Pathology (FCLAP) represents a new research and service facility that has been established in the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine in close collaboration with the Laboratory Animal Centre, University of Helsinki, as part of the "FinnMouse National Infrastructure for Generation, Analysis and Archiving of Mouse Models" funded by a 2009 Bioscience Technology Platform grant of Biocenter Finland.

The FCLAP represents a core research facility that provides technical services and expertise to researchers at the University of Helsinki and outside clients who undertake laboratory animal work that includes, for example, morphological studies to assess pathological changes, specific phenotypical features and the expression/distribution of specific antigens.

The FCLAP is managed by qualified veterinarians with experience in laboratory animal pathology. This ensures an expert targeted, comparative and holistic approach to a wide range of specific research questions and projects. In order to allow optimal use of animals and data, scientists need appropriate knowledge and training, the provision of which represents a relevant part of the FCLAP remit. Accordingly, the FCLAP will offer specific training sessions of particular relevance for scientists who incorporate morphological approaches into their projects to the Finnish scientific community.

We now announce the first FCLAP Training Event, a "One-Day-Course on Necropsy Techniques in Laboratory Animal Pathology" with special emphasis on the mouse and rat. The training is intended for veterinarians and scientists who are planning to or are already undertaking experimental animal work that includes aspects of laboratory animal pathology. The programme will comprise lectures and an extensive practical session, delivered by Giovanni Pellegrini, a laboratory animal pathologist with 10 years experience in particular in all theoretical and practical aspects of toxicological pathology, from study planning to final interpretation.

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Progamme 1. Introduction

a. Macroscopic observations: a powerful tool

b. Different study types, different needs

c. Examples from industry: What we need to import into our daily job. i. Preclinical toxicity studies: protocols and GLP ii. Standardisation of gross findings

2. General Techniques

a. Getting ready for the necropsy

b. Material

c. Euthanasia

d. Rodents and their anatomical and physiological peculiarities

e. Organ weights: "banal" recommendations

f. Specific procedures (eg. bone marrow smears, TEM, metabolism...)

g. Early deaths: A story apart 3. The Necropsy, Theory and Practice

[The goal of this session is to go through a full necropsy, step by step, and at the same time view slides that demonstrate the relevance of each step, showing the most frequent findings encountered in each organ system, tissue collection techniques etc.]

4. What next?

a. Trimming and processing i. Standard guidelines ii. General tips

b. Microscopic evaluation Note: The time to be spent on each topic and the amount of detail may vary according to the preferences of the audience. Registration The number of participants is limited to allow a successful practical session, and places are offered on a first-come, first-serve basis. A charge of €50 applies per participant. To register, please contact Ritva Katsuno (Ritva.Katsuno@helsinki.fi), by latest 07.02.2011.

If you have any queries or require further information, please email: Anja Kipar (akipar@liverpool.ac.uk). Anja Kipar Professor of Veterinary Pathology Helsinki, January 2011 For further information on FinnMouse, visit our website at http://www.fingmice.org/index.html.