Seaweed bioactivity evaluation
1 Purpose
The overall purpose of the study is to identify the bioactive effects (prebiotic and antioxidative) of fermented seaweed ingredient on gut health and for the prevention of gastrointestinal tract inflammation in relation to inflammatory bowel diseases, especially the so-called IBD diseases (Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis).
2 Distress
The rats will be provided with free access to nutrients-balanced diets and water, and proper housing. Our test material (seaweed) is not expected to cause distress to the animals. The main distress will be from the dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) treatment. The DSS chemical is provided via drinking water without force feeding. And the dosage level is minimized to reduce stress on the animals.
3 Expected benefit
The outcome will contribute to scientific insight on the connection of diet containing unique polysaccharides, gut microbiota, and gut inflammation characters. It will increase our understanding of seaweed as a diet supplement for both human and monogastric animals, and therefore provide an extra application of domestic seaweed materials of Norway.
4 Number of animals, and what kind
The experiments are performed with 32 adult male Sprague-Dawley rats at age of 6 weeks (weight 170-200g).
5 How to adhere to 3R
To reduce the animal numbers needed, the experimental groups were limited to four after pre-analysis and a careful consideration on the hypothesis. Replacement is not possible as the whole gastrointestinal system as well as gut microbiota cannot be replace by in vitro study. The refinement strategy is practiced by choosing mild DSS dosage which does not involve force feeding, and is expected to create minimum discomfort (< mild pain in the pain score sheet) in animals while still reaching bowel inflammation level required. The sampling time point before termination of animals has be limited to one time blood sampling. There is no recovery phase concerned as the animals will be sacrificed at the end of trial. The researcher has completed training and practical hours for FELASA category C researchers for Mammalian species in Norway. And the experiment will be carried out in an organized animal facility with experienced technicians.
The overall purpose of the study is to identify the bioactive effects (prebiotic and antioxidative) of fermented seaweed ingredient on gut health and for the prevention of gastrointestinal tract inflammation in relation to inflammatory bowel diseases, especially the so-called IBD diseases (Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis).
2 Distress
The rats will be provided with free access to nutrients-balanced diets and water, and proper housing. Our test material (seaweed) is not expected to cause distress to the animals. The main distress will be from the dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) treatment. The DSS chemical is provided via drinking water without force feeding. And the dosage level is minimized to reduce stress on the animals.
3 Expected benefit
The outcome will contribute to scientific insight on the connection of diet containing unique polysaccharides, gut microbiota, and gut inflammation characters. It will increase our understanding of seaweed as a diet supplement for both human and monogastric animals, and therefore provide an extra application of domestic seaweed materials of Norway.
4 Number of animals, and what kind
The experiments are performed with 32 adult male Sprague-Dawley rats at age of 6 weeks (weight 170-200g).
5 How to adhere to 3R
To reduce the animal numbers needed, the experimental groups were limited to four after pre-analysis and a careful consideration on the hypothesis. Replacement is not possible as the whole gastrointestinal system as well as gut microbiota cannot be replace by in vitro study. The refinement strategy is practiced by choosing mild DSS dosage which does not involve force feeding, and is expected to create minimum discomfort (< mild pain in the pain score sheet) in animals while still reaching bowel inflammation level required. The sampling time point before termination of animals has be limited to one time blood sampling. There is no recovery phase concerned as the animals will be sacrificed at the end of trial. The researcher has completed training and practical hours for FELASA category C researchers for Mammalian species in Norway. And the experiment will be carried out in an organized animal facility with experienced technicians.