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Ensuring reproducibility and ethics in animal experiments reporting in Korea using the ARRIVE guideline

Laboratory Animal Research volume 34, pages 11–19 (2018)Cite this article

Abstract

The aim of this study is to evaluate the reporting quality of animal experiments in Korea using the Animals in Research: Reporting In Vivo Experiments (ARRIVE) guideline developed in 2010 to overcome the reproducibility problem and to encourage compliance with replacement, refinement and reduction of animals in research (3R’s principle). We reviewed 50 papers published by a Korean research group from 2013 to 2016 and scored the conformity with the 20-items ARRIVE guideline. The median conformity score was 39.50%. For more precise evaluation, the 20 items were subdivided into 57 sub-items. Among the sub-items, status of experimental animals, housing and husbandry were described under the average level. Microenvironment sub-items, such as enrichment, bedding material, cage type, number of companions, scored under 10%. Although statistical methods used for the studies were given in most publications (84%), sample size calculation and statistical assumption were rarely described. Most publications mentioned the IACUC approval, but only 8% mentioned welfare-related assessments and interventions, and only 4% mentioned any implications of experimental methods or findings for 3R. We may recommend the revision of the present IACUC proposal to collect more detailed information and improving educational program for animal researchers according to the ARRIVE guideline.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Developmental Biology and Genomics, College of Veterinary Medicine, Research Institute of Veterinary Science, and BK21 Program for Veterinary Science, Seoul National University, Room 514, Bldg 81, Gwanak-ro 1, Gwanak-gu, Seoul, 08826, Korea

    Mi-Hyun Nam & Je-Kyung Seong

  2. Korea Mouse Phenotyping Center (KMPC), Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea

    Mi-Hyun Nam & Je-Kyung Seong

  3. Research Institute of Veterinary Science, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea

    Myung-Sun Chun

  4. College of Liberal Arts, Hongik University, Seoul, Korea

    Hoon-Gi Kim

Authors
  1. Mi-Hyun Nam
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  2. Myung-Sun Chun
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  3. Je-Kyung Seong
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  4. Hoon-Gi Kim
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Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Je-Kyung Seong or Hoon-Gi Kim.

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Nam, MH., Chun, MS., Seong, JK. et al. Ensuring reproducibility and ethics in animal experiments reporting in Korea using the ARRIVE guideline. Lab Anim Res 34, 11–19 (2018). https://doi.org/10.5625/lar.2018.34.1.11

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.5625/lar.2018.34.1.11

Keywords

  • Animal experiments
  • ARRIVE guideline
  • reproducibility crisis
  • 3R’s principle

Laboratory Animal Research

ISSN: 2233-7660