Guiding principles for the care and use of animals in the field of physiological sciences
Partially revised on April 1, 2015
Animal experiments have become an indispensable part of physiological research andeducation. Physiological research involving animal models plays a major role inunderstanding the nature of life and the mechanisms of specific vital processes, and the results
are often applied to medical science and medical treatments; thus, this research has
countlessly contributed to human health maintenance and animal welfare. In Japan, legislation
related to the drafting of scientific protocols involving animal experiments is documented in
the “Act on Welfare and Management of Animals, Act 105,” which was revised in 2006,enacted, and then further revised in 2012. The “Fundamental Guidelines for Proper Conductof Animal Experiments and Related Activities in Academic Research Institutions (Ministry ofEducation, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Notice No. 71)” was based on the 2006
legal revisions. Drawing on these existing laws and guidelines, we have created this set ofbasic guidelines to ensure that sufficient consideration is given to high ethical standards inanimal welfare in physiological animal experiments, which mainly involve vertebrates. By
creating these guidelines, we aim to rapidly advance physiological research and further
enhance physiology education. Animal experiments, including those in the field of physiology,
are subject to the regulations of the animal care and use committee at the relevant research
institution, and are the responsibility of the head of the institution. Experimenters should
adhere to the guidelines below and only conduct experiments that are eligible within theseguidelines. In addition, to guarantee adherence to these guidelines, research presented atacademic meetings held by our society or published in the Journal of Physiological Sciences
is limited to research that has been approved by the animal care and use committee located at
the respective university or research institution, irrespective of whether the research wasconducted overseas or within Japan.
This current edition of “Guiding principles for the care and use of animals in the field ofphysiological sciences” (first enacted on December 5, 2003) has been revised based on the“International guiding principles for biomedical research involving animals.” (CIOMS,
revised 2012) and the “Guide for the care and use of laboratory animals.” DHEW Publication.
No. (NIH) 85-23, 1996.
Basic principles

The basic principles are to respect the lives of animals used during experiments, and ensurethat the welfare and humane handling of animals is pursued to the greatest extent possible.
Therefore, every effort should be made to adhere to the following three principles:
1) Proactively adopting techniques that can substitute animal experiments.
2) Reduce the number of experimental animals to the smallest possible number that isnecessary to produce effective scientific results.
3) Refine experiment methodology so as to reduce the levels of suffering and stressexperienced by animals through appropriate maintenance of housing facilities and surgicaloperating techniques. In particular, special consideration should be given to the selection anduse of anesthetic agents to alleviate suffering.
Specific Guidelines
Experimenters within Japan should act in accordance with the “Fundamental Guidelines for
Proper Conduct of Animal Experiments and Related Activities in Academic ResearchInstitutions (Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Notice No. 71).”
When using genetically modified animals for experiments, these should only be transferredand housed through the proper procedures and in accordance with Cartagena Protocol.
1. Animal acquisition and transportation methods
All animals should be obtained legally. When using wild animals for experiments, theseshould only be acquired through the proper procedures and in accordance with guidelines fornature conservation. When using imported animals, the Washington Convention for nature
conservation should be complied with. When transporting animals, a person with specialist
knowledge, such as veterinarian, should conduct quarantine of the animals as required toprevent infection of the experimenter and the animal-care staff, and to prevent infection
among animals. In particular, detailed examination for zoonoses is required.
2. Animal housing methods
1) Buildings and equipment
In general, animals should be housed in a dedicated animal facility that is clean andsubject to strict environmental controls. When it is unavoidable that animals be housed
outside a dedicated animal facility, it is necessary to ensure that the housing space is indoors
and clean, and that scrupulous attention is paid to environmental controls. In particular,
sufficient measures should be in place to prevent escape or theft, noise and foul odors

should be prevented, and meticulous attention should be paid to the maintenance of thehousing conditions and measures to prevent infection.
2) Animal housing environment and housing management
The cages in which animals are housed should be sized according to both the animal
species and individual animals, such that the animals can live comfortably. The cage andsurroundings should be kept clean, and the ventilation, lighting, temperature, and humidity
should be controlled. Animals should be fed according to their preference with nutritionallyappropriate food, and they should have easy access to fresh water. Furthermore, wherepossible, the housing should consider species-specific behavior and movements, with thegoal to alleviate animal anxiety and stress.
3) Management of illness
The health status of animals should be monitored daily. When illness is detected, advice
should be quickly sought from a person with specialist knowledge, such as a veterinarian,
and appropriate measures should be taken to treat the animals and prevent the spread ofinfection.
3. Planning and implementation of animal experiments
1) Drafting the experiment plan
When planning either experiments or educational laboratory practical training that uses
animals, the following criteria should be followed. The experimental objectives and results
should be highly valuable from a scientific perspective and the use of animals should beabsolutely critical. The experimental procedures should be refined from the perspective ofanimal welfare to avoid causing unnecessary suffering to the animals. The experiment planshould allow for the achievement of scientific results using the smallest possible number ofanimals. Experimenters and animal-care staff should take preventative measures to ensurethat they are not harmed or infected by the animals. In addition, the relevant laws should beobserved.
2) Review of the experiment protocol
Before beginning any animal experiments, experimenters should present an animal
experimentation protocol to the animal care and use committee at the relevant research
institution, and should have this document reviewed and approved.

3) Creation and archiving of animal experiment files
Experimenters should create and archive an animal experiment file detailing the statusof the animal experiment. This file should contain a copy of the approved animal
protocol, a record of the management and course of any health-related issues andaccidents that occurred, and a description of the research results and any ensuing
publications.
4) Experimenter qualifications
Experimenters should be skilled in the applicable experimental techniques and in thehandling of experimental animals. Researchers without sufficient experience should always
conduct experiments under the supervision of an experienced experimenter.
5) Exclusion or alleviation of suffering caused by pain or physical restraint
Experimenters should exert maximum effort to avoid causing animals suffering or pain,
particularly during experiments. When animals should be physically restrained, theexperiments should only be performed after the animals have been sufficiently habituated.
When there are restrictions on the amount of water or food supplied, checks on the healthstatus of the animals should be performed to ensure that they do not experience suffering.
Research into the mechanisms of pain or stress is only to be conducted after review by theanimal care and use committee at the respective affiliated institutions, and should be limited
to those experimenters that are licensed to do such research. Finally, the absolute minimum
necessary number of experiments should be conducted.
6) Surgical interventions
When performing surgery on animals, preoperative monitoring, sterilization, disinfection,and infection control should be considered. Sufficient consideration should be given to preand intraoperative administration of medication and anesthesia, as well as postoperative
administration of medication and nursing care to prevent animal suffering.
7) Intervention after the experiment is concluded
When disposing of animals at the conclusion of an experiment, the animals should be
euthanized in line with guidelines on animal welfare by methods including administering an
overdose of anesthetic agents. Environmental pollution from the corpses or from tools orequipment used during the experiment should be prevented.

4. Hygiene and safety of the experimenter and animal carers
During the entire experiment and while housing animals, it is important to maintain anoccupational environment that is safe and healthy for the experimenter and the animal-care
staff. Precautions should be taken to prevent bite wounds from the animals, to prevent
infection, and to prevent environmental pollution by disinfectants or cleaning agents. It isparticularly important to adhere strictly to the quarantine and infection prevention protocols
to combat zoonotic infections.
5. Monitoring of animal experiments and housing
The animal care and use committee at the respective research institution bears theresponsibility for monitoring the animal experiments and housing and ensuring that allprocedures are conducted humanely and with consideration for animal welfare.
6. Publication of experiment results
Research presented at academic meetings held by our society or published in the society
publications (Journal of the Physiological Society of Japan, Journal of PhysiologicalSciences) is limited to research that has been reviewed and approved by the animal care anduse committee located at the respective research institution, irrespective of whether theresearch was conducted overseas or within Japan.