Dr. Terasawa Response
To: Eric Sandgren, Chair of the Graduate School ACUC
From: [REDACTED]
Date: May 7, 2003
Re: Protocol [REDACTED]
I am writing this memo to clarify the issue regarding “continuous observation of chaired monkeys during the push-pull perfusion,” which appears in Questions [REDACTED] and [REDACTED].
In [REDACTED] and [REDACTED] we state that “During the actual push-pull perfusion experiments animals will be continuously attended by our research staff.” Concern was raised regarding this statement, because one monkey [REDACTED] died while the scientist who was conducting this project was away for a brief lunch.
This statement was present in a protocol agreement approved in the late 1980’s. At that time we could eat and drink in the same laboratory where experiments were conducted, and we had to collect samples manually every 10 minutes. Sometime in the 1990’s the rule changed so that no eating and drinking were allowed in the animal area. Thus, we purchased a fraction collector, with which sample collections can be conducted automatically at 10-minute intervals, and scientific staff can have lunch and supper during the long course (10-16 hours) of sample collection.
As we also stated in [REDACTED], this experiment requires a quiet and stable condition. Especially, during the sample collection, it is important for an experimenter to keep a continuous “private” condition in which he/she established a “rapport” with a monkey. Many monkeys are very sensitive to strangers or intrusion by other scientific staff, even though they are familiar with those monkeys. Thus, we did not make arrangements to have substitute personnel come in while the experimenter was away for eating, drinking and bathroom necessity. After the death of [REDACTED], we realize that the word “continuously” could mislead our situation.
We will make a revision in the protocol stating that “During the actual push-pull perfusion experiments animals will be continuously attended by our research staff, except for a few brief breaks of no more than 20 min for bathroom, eating and other incidental needs”. (The application to the revision will be submitted before the June meeting.) Meanwhile, we will implement the practice of having substitute personnel present while the experimenter is away from the experimental room up to 20 min. The substitute personnel will not be visible to the monkey while in the experimental room.
Finally, I would like to point out the fact that [REDACTED] was in good health prior to cannula insertion followed by chairing as well as during push-pull perfusion experiment until right before the experimenter left for a 25-minute lunch. (The monkey was checked by the vet staff prior to the procedure starting, as is our standard procedure.) The death of [REDACTED] could have occurred in her home cage, rather than in a chair, because she was 31 years old (equivalent to 90 years old in humans), and because she had a pathological condition, specifically cerebral edema or emboli formed from the left atrioventricular valve thrombus, based on the necropsy record.
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