The ferret for non-rodent toxicity studies - a pathologist's view.
Ferrets have been used in our laboratories over the past 4 years in 12 small drug toxicity studies (14-28 days, 6-8 ferrets, usually male) and recently for a larger study (90 days, 54 ferrets). This has provided a basis for assessing the suitability of the ferret as an alternative species for non-rodent drug toxicity studies. It is amenable to daily dosing by gavage, and it shows gastric damage of a similar type and degree to the dog in response to oral non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Certain minor peculiarities of its background pathology are worth noting, but no major problems were seen in this area which would limit its usefulness for routine toxicity testing.
D000820:Animal Diseases / Q000473:pathology; D000818:Animals; D002335:Carnivora / Q000502:physiology*; D005289:Ferrets / Q000502:physiology*; D007684:Kidney Tubules / Q000187:drug effects; D013272:Stomach Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000662:veterinary; D014116:Toxicology / Q000379:methods*