Abstract
[Objective] In recent years, the spread of coronavirus infection has influence on supplying monkeys and dogs as experimental animals. Therefore, we examined whether ferrets could be used to assess the circulatory system in this study, as part of a safety pharmacology study. We used moxifloxacin as a positive control, and carried out this study according to the Q&A of ''best practice considerations for in vivo studies''.
[Results] Ferret ECG showed a strong positive correlation between QT interval and RR interval (r = 0.930). When various QT correction formulas assuming a heart rate of 300bpm were applied, the Bazett correction formula overcorrected (slope: -0.092), on the other hand, the Fridericia correction formula almost appropriately corrected (slope: -0.019). Furthermore, the slope was corrected to 0.001 by applying the individual correction formula. A positive correlation (r = 0.735) was also observed between blood levels and ⊿⊿QTci, therefore the QT-prolonging effect of moxifloxacin was confirmed.
[Discussion] Ferrets weigh approximately 1.5 kg and are easily tamed. While they are bred as a family pet, they are useful as an experimental animal with highly crossable with humans and are used for development of influenza and COVID-19 vaccine, etc. In this study, we could assess the QT-prolonging effect by using telemeterized ferrets according to the Q&A of ''best practice considerations for in vivo studies''. This result would be meaningful to contribute to expand the choice of experimental animal species, and save the amount of test article.
