University of Minnesota primate research

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The University of Minnesota runs a number of studies involving non-human primates, most notably research into drug addiction. The studies have attracted the attention of local and national animal rights groups.

Contents 1 Drug addiction 1.1 Animal rights protests 2 April 21, 2008 USDA Complaint 2.1 Excerpt of Dr. Marilyn Carroll Primates Daily Care Log 3 See also 4 Notes 5 External links 5.1 Selected papers by Marilyn Carroll

[edit] Drug addiction

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Non-human primates are used by the university to research the effects of drug addiction. The studies are led by Marilyn Carroll, a professor of neuroscience.^[1] As of October 2000, Carroll's laboratory was using 34 rhesus monkeys in these studies, according to a meeting of the university's Social Concerns Committee,^[2] a figure confirmed in a May 15, 2006 census obtained by the Minnesota Primate Freedom Project, a chapter of the national Primate Freedom Project.^[3] Carroll has received $8,888,593 in grants for her work from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) since 1996.^[4]

Carroll's research involves training monkeys and rats — for example by restricting food intake^[5] — to self-administer drugs that humans misuse. In the experiments, the animals drink alcohol, smoke, and are given cocaine, heroin, caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol intravenously.^[6] She writes that "several phases of the addiction process are modeled, such as acquisition, maintenance, withdrawal, craving, and relapse."^[1]

Her work has shown that antidepressants and behavioral or environmental changes, such as adding sweet-tasting drinking solutions, reduce the self-administration of drugs in laboratory animals.^[1] Other changes, such as limiting food intake, led to increased drug administration.^[7]

[edit] Animal rights protests

Carroll's work on primates has gained the attention of animal rights groups, including the Animal Liberation Front (ALF).^[8] Protests were first held outside her lab in 1986.^[9] Pictures of animal experiments were later sent to 400 of her neighbors, and her home was picketed.^[9][6] In 1997, Freeman Wicklund of the university's Student Organization for Animal Rights (SOAR) was sentenced to 90 days in jail after occupying the office of the president of the university to protest Carroll's research. Wicklund responded by beginning a hunger strike, which he told reporters would last until he was released; he was released two weeks later and given a year's probation instead.^[8] Carroll obtained a restraining order against SOAR, the ALF, and several of the protesters, including Wicklund.^[10]

[edit] April 21, 2008 USDA Complaint

The watchdog group, Stop Animal Exploitation Now! filed a complaint with the USDA on April 21, 2008 against the University of Minnesota for violating the Animal Welfare Act. The complaint alleges that the University of Minnesota has “improper enclosures for primates” and “negligence or poorly constructed equipment.” ^[11]

In addition, the complaint alleges that there is “serious problems in the laboratory of Dr. Marilyn Carroll”, specifically in the area of “environmental enhancement”. The complaint cites information from the daily care logs of primates. ^[12]

[edit] Excerpt of Dr. Marilyn Carroll Primates Daily Care Log

   *  On 8/9/05 primate 05GP20 is listed as “Temp was up due to primate jumping back and forth wildly.”
   * Primate #312A is described “Still overdosing on current drug dosage, ataxic, hypersalivating, disoriented.”
   * 7/26/05 & 7/28/05 also, 4/2/07 generalized alopecia “On current drug dosage ataxic, hypersalivating, disoriented.”
   * On 8/23/05 #312E shows evidence of self-mutilation “did bite knee after observation.”
   * Primate #45C on 3/21/06 listed as “extremely thin, body condition is poor, severe alopecia . . . bruising on top of left ankle.”
   * #45D on 11/15/05 “NHP observed by LACT ripping hair from the armpit area and chewing on the fur, each time he would grab a tuft of fur he would vocalize”
   * #78B 9/7/05 (Carroll) “extreme alopecia” and still has severe alopecia on 9/11/06;
   * #25A (Carroll) lost part of his tongue on 3/22/05;
   * #25b was overdosed on 9/14/04 and on 11/15/05 “NHP was observed by LACT ripping hair from the armpit area and chewing on the fur, each time he would grab a tuft of hair he would vocalize.”[13]

[edit] See also

• Rat Park

[edit] Notes

[edit] External links

[edit] Selected papers by Marilyn Carroll