Medications, as essential tools in healthcare, undergo laboratory evaluation before being applied in treatment. Since cellular and organ functions are largely consistent across animals and humans, many processes in animal cells mirror those in human cells. From a biological standpoint, humans are categorized as animals. In experimental pharmacology, animals are utilized to examine disease effects on living tissues, evaluate new treatments, including animal medications, and assist in the training of future health professionals and scientists. They have significantly contributed to research progress, enabling the discovery of various new drugs through animal experimentation. However, animal testing presents specific challenges, including issues related to animal procurement, the complexity of experimental procedures, strict regulatory guidelines, ethical concerns, and, frequently, the perspectives of students. Consequently, modern advancements, such as computer simulations, are increasingly being adopted as substitutes for animal use. This article highlights the role of animals in experimental pharmacology while also acknowledging proposed alternatives for pharmacology education.
Eurasian Academy of Medicine and Dentistry