Dutch university scientists increase research productivity using fewer animals per project

The proposed general reduction in the number of animals used in research wi thin the EU is inappropriate. if a reduction is warranted it should be rela ted to the scientific requirements. We show that the numbers of laboratory animals used per published paper in the Netherlands has decreased by 23% be tween 1990 and 1997. A further reduction might be detrimental to scientific progress. (See Editorial p. 206) (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.