Mice As Early Pregnancy Tests

          Prior to today’s modern pregnancy tests, scientists had to use other methods to detect signs of pregnancy. In 1927, German scientists Selmar Aschheim and Bernhard Zondek developed the A-Z pregnancy test. This test was the milestone for detecting pregnancy in the earlier stages. 

          A urine sample from a suspected pregnant woman would be injected into sexually immature mice three times a day for three days. (Meredith, J. Scrase, R.2020, April 15) Two days after this process the mice would be killed so a dissection would reveal signs of pregnancy such as swollen ovaries. These signs would be visible due to a hormone called gonadotropin, which is produced during early pregnancy. The test required five mice per woman, and was eventually switched over to rabbits because it was an easier process. (Tyssowski, K. 2018, August 31.) 

          While these tests were developed in Germany, they quickly spread to other parts of the world, including the United States. These tests would be run in many labs across the U.S., which brings up the ethical concerns. How are experiments such as these considered ethical when the subjects cannot consent to experimentation? It also should be accounted for that each test would result in the death of five mice per test. There was no other option except for death for these mice. How would it be considered if humans were in the place of the mice? Surely it would be considered more heavily if that was the case. The point is, animals should be protected when it comes to experimentation used for the benefits of humans. 

Sources: 

          Meredith, J. Scrase, R. (2020, April 15) Animal research and pregnancy testing: a history. Understanding Animal Research. https://www.understandinganimalresearch.org.uk/news/animal-research-and-pregnancy-testing-a-history#:~:text=Each%20mouse%20would%20be%20injected,as%20enlargement%20of%20the%20ovaries.

          Tyssowski, K. (2018, August 31). Pee is for Pregnant: The history and science of urine-based pregnancy tests - Science in the News. Science in the News. https://sitn.hms.harvard.edu/flash/2018/pee-pregnant-history-science-urine-based-pregnancy-tests/

          Olszynko-Gryn, J. (2014). The demand for pregnancy testing: The Aschheim–Zondek reaction, diagnostic versatility, and laboratory services in 1930s Britain. National Library of Medicine. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4275600/