[Photo: MacLean, J.B. and Leffman H.,1967. Fig. 1. Diagram to show site of stimulation an recording in the Supraspinal control of Renshaw Cells Experiment.]
[Yates, Roger. (2019). On Human Relations with Other Sentient Beings. March for the Animals protest June 10, 1990 in Washington DC.]
[Photo: MacLean, J.B. and Leffman H.,1967. Fig. 1. Diagram to show site of stimulation an recording in the Supraspinal control of Renshaw Cells Experiment.]
CATS CAN HANDLE IT
Cats have a long history of being experimented on by neurologists. They were the preferred subject for neuron experimentation due to their size and being generally inexpensive. Domesticated cats could withstand the extensive surgeries required and accommodate bulky instruments.
These surgeries were physically grueling and possibly life-altering for the cat, depending on the type of neuron testing that was being done. Some experiments required scientists to surgically paralyze the animals, while others had them under anesthesia the entire time.
In one such study, the Supraspinal control of Renshaw Cells, seventy-five cats went through procedures that cut open their skulls and back to implant metal rods onto their exposed neurons. MacLean and Leffman then turned the cats’ nervous systems into currents to observe how Renshaw cells affect motor output in neuron signaling. While this was occurring, the cats were constantly monitored and kept underneath amnesia and a paralytic drug.
The dependency on felines decreased after 1985 due to the Public Health Service Policy, which generated protections for veritable animals that participate in research. This made neurological testing on cats more costly, and with the refinement of techniques and minimization of tools, making the use of rodents more economically feasible.
Arguably MacLean and Leffman were humane in how they treated the cats in their experiment, the only problem was that it was performed on a cat. Many people are fine with non-companion animals being experimented on. But an animal deserves to not be killed or injured in the sake of science.
Sources:
MacLean, J. B., & Leffman, H. (1967). Supraspinal control of Renshaw Cells. Experimental Neurology, 18(1), 94–104. https://doi.org/10.1016/0014-4886(67)90091-x
National Academies Press. (2004). Regulation of Animal Research. In Science, medicine, and animals (pp. 32–39). Essay. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK24650/
Pankevich, D. E., Wizemann, T. M., Anne-Marie Mazza, & Altevogt, B. M. (2012). 4 Animals in Neuroscience Research. In International Animal Research Regulations Impact on Neuroscience Research ; workshop summary (pp. 29–41). essay, National Academies Press. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK97817/
Yates, Roger. (2019). 60-70,000 Animal Advocates March in North America. Seen through On Human Relations with Other Sentient Beings. https://onhumanrelationswithothersentientbeings.weebly.com/the-blog/60-70000-animal-advocates-march-in-north-america