Article 4 of the European Directive 2010/63 / EU on the protection of animals used for scientific purposes requires to use methods of breeding, housing and care that avoid or at least minimize pain, suffering, distress or lasting harm for the animal (Refinement). Since the mouse is the animal most commonly used, effective pain management in mice is of the highest importance.
Systemic analgesia for post-operative care in mice is usually achieved by subcutaneous injection of opioids. Interindividual differences in the effect of analgesics on different mouse strains due to different genetic disposition on the pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic level (pharmacogenetics) pose a problem for effective dosing (Carbone et al., 2012). Detailed information about pharmacogenetics of mice and their different strains used in the laboratory are not available. The aim of this project is to elucidate the metabolism of buprenorphine and metamizol, depending on the genetic profile of those enzymes involved in phase I and II reactions in several of the most common inbred mouse strains (e.g. C57BL / 6, BALB / c, and 129 / SVJ). To this end, in vivo, in vitro and in silico methods will be applied. Based on the results of this study, it should be possible to give more precise recommendations for dosing of the tested analgesics for mice in animal experiments.