Reporting of 3Rs Approaches in Preclinical Animal Experimental Studies—A Nationwide Study

The 3Rs aim to refine animal welfare, reduce numbers, and replace experiments. Investigations disclose that researchers are positive towards recommendations from peers. Communication of approaches via primary preclinical experimental literature may become a fast-forward extension learn relevant if such reported. This study investigates 3Rs-reporting in peer-reviewed research with at least one author affiliated Danish university. Using systematic search random sampling, we included 500 studies 2009 2018. Reporting was low improvement over time limited. A word for 3R retrieved zero results 3.2% on 3Rs-related sentences increased 6.4% 18.4% 2018, “reduction” 2.4% 8.0%, “refinement” 5.2% 14.4%. Replacement not the methodology missing. For “reduction”, mentioned 11 9 21, respectively. Twenty-one stated compliance ARRIVE-guidelines or similar without disclosure details. publications is currently insufficient guide researchers. Other strategies, e.g., education, interdisciplinary collaboration, funding initiatives, needed.