Laboratory Mice Euthanasia: Speed Death and Animal Welfare

The euthanasia is one of the most studied, debated and controversial topics in the laboratory animal science area. All over the world, the ideal way to perform euthanasia in laboratory animals is sought, seeking, in summary, three main points, animal welfare during the procedure; minimal influence on the animals biological system, not to interfere with test results and accessibility and low cost. In Brazil, after the validity of Law No 11.794-2008, that regulated the use of animals for didactic and scientific purposes, structuring the Animal Experimentation Control Council (CONCEA). In its resolutions, CONCEA standardized the application of accepted euthanasia methods, mainly overdose of injectable anesthetics and restricted use of carbon dioxide (CO2).