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By Sherry F. Pruitt

Sun staff writer

JONESBORO -- The favorite part of Carla Sockey's job as an animal technician is playing with the furry creatures, especially babies.

Sockey works full time as an animal technician at the Arkansas Biosciences Institute on the ARKANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY campus during the summer and part time while taking fall and spring courses.

"They're sweet," she said.

In many cases research facilities that use animals get a bad rap, but that's not the case at ABI, said Tony McMickle, Animal Care Facility manager for almost two years.

ABI is registered with the Public Health Service, a federal agency that provides grant funding to institutions that "submit assurance that animals will be treated ethically and humanely, McMickle said.

"We're meeting the highest standards," he said. "They are quite involved. There are more regulations and requirements for animals than humans as far as research goes because humans can give consent; animals don't."

In addition, ASU has an institutional Animal Care and Use Committee, with representatives from the public, scientists, researchers and veterinarians serving as members.

"It ensures the welfare of the animals and has periodic inspections," he added.

McMickle emphasized the fact that ABI offers excellent study and work opportunities for undergraduates and graduate students, especially those interested in research, medicine, veterinarian school and careers in education.

Sockey is just one student taking advantage of available opportunities. A native of Alma, she has worked as an animal technician for a year at ABI.

"You can get attached. I have my particular couple I love a lot. I don't want to let them go," she said.

Her favorite part of the job is playing with the mice and rats, but the worst part is "emptying dirty cages."

"That's in my job description. I have to do it. It's a great job. It has taught me a lot. I really like it, and I understand every aspect of it," she said. "I see the importance of everything done."

One way Sockey has shared her enthusiasm for her work at ABI is by presenting a poster titled "Undergraduate Opportunities in Animal Care and Research at ARKANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY."

She attended the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science District 7 meeting in Arlington, Texas, in May. Also, she is a member of the state chapter of the American Association for Laboratory Science.

"I outlined what I do and what opportunities other students can have," she said.

McMickle added that this is the first time the ABI Animal Care Facility has been involved at the national level, and he wants to get ASU more involved.

The two stressed that animals are kept in a "pristine environment," where lighting, humidity and temperature are well maintained. The subjects of research have toys to play with, treats to eat and bones to chew. Animal care workers also pair them up and let them socialize.

"Every assurance is made that they have no discomfort or suffering," McMickle said.

The mice and rats are kept in containers on the first floor of the ABI facility, in the animal care section, which is similar to a veterinarian office. There is a surgery suite, holding and procedure rooms, and clean and dirty cage areas, including a cage washer.

They bed on corn cob bedding, munch on dried fruit and vegetable snacks and arrange nesting materials to their liking.

"Each cage is isolated. The air is filtered, so no bacteria can get in or out," said McMickle, a Wynne native.

"They have babies every three weeks, and they're pregnant the day they have them," added Sockey, who is hopeful she will be able to use her experiences after she obtains a mid-level education degree in math and science from A-State.

Like Sockey, a few other ASU students are benefiting from ABI this summer. Three high school honor students and a student who is part of the Research Internship in Science of the Environment program are spending time at ABI, as well as nine graduate students and 10 undergraduates.

Many of those students work with researchers who are studying in a variety of areas, such as voluntary nicotine consumption, effects of maternal smoking, neurotransmitter distribution, strategies for vaccine delivery, neuron survival growth and regeneration and nano-material exposure and neuron interaction as well as physiological changes in estrogen deficiency, said McMickle, who received a bachelor's degree in biology from ASU in 1989 and worked with the 1996 Nobel Prize recipient Peter C. Doherty at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis.

sherry@jonesborosun.com