IACUC approval

[Greg Conway]

Dear Zebrafish Researchers: 

 I work on zebrafish embryos less than three days post-fertilization 
and am trying to get IACUC approval to use zebrafish at my 
institution.  My committee has placed my approval on hold till I 
can: "Document the statement that no pain and distress is 
experienced in the embryos."  I will state that embryos young 
enough not to have neurons can not experience pain, however, 
what documentation/references/arguments would be useful to 
counter their comment that say 24, 48, or 72 hour embryos
experience pain?  Has anyone else in the zf community 
encountered similar comments from their IACUC committees?  
Your suggestions and even comments regarding this question from 
my IACUC committee will be instrumental in getting approval to 
use zebrafish embryos at my institution.  If any of you are 
veterinarians or members of IACUC committees, your comments 
are especially powerful with my IACUC committee. 

I would like to get as many responses as possible.  Please email 
your suggestions or comments regarding this IACUC concern to: 

 gconway at mail.arc.nasa.gov 

Please do not send responses to Pat Edwards. 
Thank you all for your help in this matter!!!  I am very greatful. 

  Sincerely, 
  Greg Conway 
  NASA Ames Research Center 
  Moffett Field, CA 94035 

Greg Conway, Ph.D. 
Staff Scientist 
NASA Ames Research Center, Mail Stop 239-11 
Moffett Field, CA 94035