V Practical Course in Animal Experimentation

The course, organized by ORBEA Ciências ULisboa, taking place from June 16 to 19, is intended to provide skills to those who wish to work with experimental models or with wild vertebrates. It covers 4 major groups of vertebrates - mammals, birds, fish, and amphibians - in order to meet the needs expressed by researchers in the field of Biology.
 
The course program is in accordance with the criteria established by the Direção Geral de Alimentação e Veterinária (DGAV) and by FELASA - Federation of European Laboratory Animal Science Associations for laboratory animal science courses. It corresponds to the practical component required for obtaining functions A, C, and D defined by Directive 2010/63/EU.

Registration until June 12, 2026

• Costs: 220 €

• Number of vacancies available: 20

• Coordination: Rui Rebelo; Gabriela Rodrigues; Joaquim Tapisso, Tiago Repolho (e-mail contact: orbea@ciencias.ulisboa.pt)

• Schedule: 

  16th of June: 09h00 – 19h00

  17th to 19th of June: 13h30 - 19h00

1st Block – Tuesday, June 16th, from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM

Topic: Experimentation with Fish

Responsible: Tiago Repolho, José Ricardo Paula, Marta Pimentel

Specimens used in practical classes: Gilthead seabream, Zebrafish

Plenary session:

Fish

- Anatomy, physiology and behavior;

- Handling, transport, restraint, identification;

- Anesthesia, sample collection, substance administration, killing.

Practical sessions:

- Anatomy;

- Handling;

- Identification and tissue collection;

- Killing.

2nd Block – Tuesday, June 16th, from 2:00 PM to 7:00 PM

Topic: Experimentation with Cephalopods

Responsible: Rui Rosa, Eve Otjacques

Specimens used in practical classes: Octopus, Cuttlefish

Plenary Session:

Octopuses and Cuttlefish

- Anatomy, physiology, and behavior;

- Handling, transport, restraint, identification;

- Anesthesia, sample collection, substance administration, killing.

Practical Sessions:

- Anatomy;

- Handling;

- Identification and tissue collection;

- Killing.

3rd Block – Wednesday, June 17th, from 1:30 PM to 7:00 PM

Topic: Amphibian Experimentation

Responsible: Rui Rebelo

Specimens used in practical classes: tree frog, Xenopus laevis

Plenary Session:

Amphibians

- Anatomy, physiology, and behavior;

- Handling, transport, restraint, identification;

- Anesthesia, sample collection, substance administration, killing.

Practical Sessions:

- Anatomy;

- Handling;

- Identification and collection of tissues: bone, skin, blood (cardiac puncture);

- Killing.

4th Block – Thursday, June 18th, from 1:30 PM to 7:00 PM

Topic: Experimentation in mammals

Responsible: Joaquim Tapisso, Sofia Gabriel, Pedro Santos and Diogo Fernandes

Specimens used in practical classes: mouse (laboratory specimens), field mouse (specimens collected in nature and kept in a vivarium).

Plenary session:

- Anatomy, physiology and behavior;

- Capture, handling and restraint;

- Identification;

- Anesthesia, sample collection, administration of substances, killing;

- Breeding strategies in rodents;

- Biosafety in the laboratory.

Practical sessions:

- Handling and restraint;

- Sex determination and identification methods;

- Administration of substances via oral, intraperitoneal, subcutaneous, intramuscular, intradermal, and intravenous routes;

- Sample collection: blood from the facial vein, orbital plexus, and cardiac puncture; fecal and urine collection;

- Killing.

5th Block – Friday, June 19th, from 1:30 PM to 7:00 PM

Topic: Experimentation in birds

Responsible: Rui Patrício (Veterinarian)

Specimens used in practical classes: quail

Plenary session:

Birds

- Anatomy, physiology, and behavior;

- Capture, handling, and restraint;

- Individual identification;

- Anesthesia, sample collection, substance administration, killing.

Practical sessions:

- Anatomy;

- Handling;

- Sample collection: blood, feathers, claws;

- Crop intubation.