Welfare boost for MS mice

Researchers have developed an improved approach to studying multiple sclerosis in mice, which has significant benefits for the animals’ welfare.

The team have found a way of inducing the disease in animals that has fewer unwanted side effects than previous methods.

Lifelong condition

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a lifelong condition that affects the brain and spinal cord.

The disease occurs when the body’s own immune system attacks the protective sheath that surrounds nerve cells. This results in problems with vision, movement, sensation and balance.

No cure

There is currently no cure for the disease, which can get worse throughout a person’s lifetime and causes serious disability.

Animal studies offer a useful tool for researchers to probe the biological mechanisms of the disease and test the efficacy of new therapies.

Animal studies are vital for improving our understanding of neurological conditions and we are constantly striving to improve research techniques to maximise the welfare of the animals in our care.
Dr Richard Mellanby
Wellcome Trust Fellow, MRC Centre for Inflammation Research

Disease model

There are numerous ways to induce MS-like disease in mice for research purposes. A frequently used approach involves injecting a molecule called myelin basic protein (MBP).

The molecule is mixed with a chemical agent that boosts the immune system, called complete freund’s adjuvant (CFA).

Side effect

When mice are injected with a mixture of CFA and MBP under the skin, it directs the immune system to attack nerve cells and causes symptoms similar to MS.

However, an unwanted side effect of this approach is that it causes long-lasting inflammation at the injection site, which can be painful.

Alternative approach

Scientists from the Medical Research Council Centre for Inflammation Research at the University found that specialised immune cells called dendritic cells could be used to deliver MBP without the need for the additional chemical agent.

Mice treated using this approach had significantly less inflammation at the injection site, the team found.

Refinement

Experts say the refinement could improve the welfare of large numbers of experimental animals that are used in MS research each year.

The study is published in the journal Laboratory Animals.