Chunk #4 — Problems of Successful Translation to Humans of Data from Animal Experimentation — The Influence of Laboratory Procedures and Environments on Experimental Results
A variety of conditions in the laboratory cause changes in neurochemistry, genetic expression, and nerve regeneration.15 In one study, for example, mice were genetically altered to develop aortic defects. Yet, when the mice were housed in larger cages, those defects almost completely disappeared.16 Providing further examples, typical noise levels in laboratories can damage blood vessels in animals, and even the type of flooring on which animals are tested in spinal cord injury experiments can affect whether a drug shows a benefit.17
