Spontaneous closure of isolated ventricular septal defect in the pika (Ochotona rufescens rufescens)

The incidence of spontaneously occurring ventricular septal defects (VSD) in PIKA neonates and its fate during development are investigated. A total of 160 PIKAs were used in the present study. They consisted of three groups; first, 56 live neonates, second, 37 3-week-old live animals and third, 68 animals which had died during the first two weeks after birth from unknown causes. As high as 8.9% (5 cases out of 56) of the live neonates revealed isolated ventricular septal defects of membranous type. Decreased incidence (2.7%) was seen in 3-week-old PIKAs. Its implication and significance are evaluated in the discussion.     

Primary irritant reactions in the skin of the pika, Ochotona rufescens rufescens

The skin of the pika (Ochotona rufescens rufescens) was found to be remarkably sensitive to the primary irritation of sodium hydroxide, as compared with the skin of the rabbit. After exposure to 0.1 N sodium hydroxide for 24 hr, the pika skin showed severe erosion, ulceration and necrosis as well as crust formation and hyperkeratosis with vascular dilation, and cell infiltration. The changes appeared already within 1 hr after 1 N or 3 hr after 0.1 N sodium hydroxide application. After application of acetic acid, changes were apparent while less remarkable.     

Biological features of the skin of the pika, Ochotona rufescens rufescens: histological structure and enzymatic histochemical reactivity

To examine the usefulness of the pika, Ochotona rufescens rufescens, as an experimental animal for skin irritability tests, the histological structure and enzymatic histochemical reactivity of pika skin were investigated. The pika had a hair cycle similar to that of the rabbit. The skin and epidermis of the pika trunk were 1.16mm and 29.5 microns thick, on the average, respectively. Both of them were the thickest in the dorsal region followed by the interscapular area, while they were the thinnest in the abdominal region. In the epidermis of the pika, the strata corneum, granulosum, spinosum and basale were rather clearly distinguished. The cell arrangement in the stratum basale was more compact than that in the rabbit. Dermal mast cells, which are distributed in the stratum reticulare in rabbits and guinea pigs, were distributed in the stratum papillare right beneath the epidermis. The mast cell of the pika in the TEM images had granules of low electron density and with relatively long microvilli and rather large mitochondria. The activities of the enzymes, SDH, MDH, LDH, beta HBDH, alpha GPDH, ALD, G6PDH and GPR, in the hair follicles and sebaceous glands of the pika were similar to those of the rabbit.     

Immunohistochemical and ultrastructural study of anterior pituitary cells in the female Afghan pika,Ochotona rufescens rufescens

An immunohistochemical study of the anterior pituitary gland of the female Afghan pika was carried out to distinguish the ultrastructural features of GH, PRL, ACTH, TSH and LH cells. The histochemically identified GH cells resembled ultrastructurally oval or round GH cells of the rat laden with large, dense secretory granules. PRL cells were divided into three subtypes based on differences in the diameter of their spherical secretory granules. They lacked polymorphic or irregularly shaped secretory granules. ACTH cells resembled ultrastructurally, in some respects, Siperstein's "corticotrophs" of the rat with peripheral arrangement of secretory granules. However, they were not always stellate, but elongate or angular in shape. The dense secretory granules were concentrated in the peripheral area of cytoplasm. TSH cells were non-stellate, but usually oval in shape, containing the smallest spherical secretory granules (100-200 nm in diameter). Almost all LH cells reacted also with FSH antiserum. They were irregular in shape, sometimes in contact with or surrounded the GH cells. They contained an abundance of medium-sized secretory granules (140-260 nm in diameter) which were larger than those in the LH cells of the female rat throughout the estrous cycle. Large secretory granules in the LH cells of the female pika seemed to be related to the endocrine state of persistent estrus.     

Fine structure of the mandibular gland in crest-tailed marsupial-rat (Dasyuroides byrnei)

The mandibular glands of Dasyuroides byrnei were examined by light microscopy, and transmission and scanning electron microscopy. The secretory units consisted of numerous seromucous acini and a few seromucous demilunes. The seromucous acini were almost always capped by demilunes. The acinar seromucous cells contained faintly basophilic, light, coarse, bipatite secretory granules with matrix of low and moderate densities. The demilunar cells were dark compared with acinar seromucous cells and contained acidophilic secretory granules with a fibrillogranular matrix of moderate density. Preacinar cells with a seromucous nature were occasionally present at the junction between the acinus and intercalated duct. These cells had numerous basophilic granules, which were similar to those of acinar seromucous cells. The intercalated ducts consisted of simple cuboidal light cells that had a few small electron-dense granules. The striated ducts were composed of tall columnar light cells containing numerous vesicles, but no secretory granules. The mandibular acini of D. byrnei were composed of two cell types having a seromucous nature, unlike those of the opossum and many other mammals.     

Characteristics of paravertebral muscles – fibre type distribution pattern in the pika, Ochotona rufescens (Mammalia: Lagomorpha)

The evolution of the locomotor apparatus in vertebrates is marked by major reorganizations in trunk's musculature. The hypothesized functions of mammalian back muscles in the literature are discussed under consideration of the distribution and proportion of oxidative, type‐I‐fibres, oxidative‐glycolytic, type‐IIa‐fibres and glycolytic, type‐IIb‐fibres in paravertebral muscles of a small mammal. The fibre type distribution was examined from a complete series of histological sections maintaining topographical relationships between the muscles as well as within the muscle, in order to establish the overall distribution pattern. The deep and short muscles showed the highest percentage of oxidative fibres. The larger, superficial paravertebral muscles contained the highest percentage of glycolytic fibres. Two muscles were intermediate in their proportion of fibre types. All epaxial muscles together can be interpreted as an antigravity muscle–complex counteracting enduringly against the rebound tendency caused by gravitation, comparable with antigravity muscles in limbs. A gradient from deep to superficial, or a clear regionalization of oxidative muscle fibres in central deep regions around a large intramuscular tendon was found in the m. spinalis and the m. quadratus lumborum, respectively. Concepts of the function of human back muscles as those of A. Bergmark (1989: Acta Orthop. Scand. 230 , 1) or S.G.T. Gibbons & M.J. Comerford (2001: Orthop. Division Rev. March/April, 21) were exposed to be more general within mammals. Functional specializations of different muscles and muscle parts are discussed under the consideration of evolutionary reorganization of the paravertebral musculature in tetrapods. Along the cranio‐caudal axis, the percentage of oxidative fibres was decreased in caudal direction within the same muscles, whereas the proportion of glycolytic fibres was increased. Therefore, classifications of muscles as ‘glycolytic’ or ‘oxidative’ based on biopsies or analyses of single cross‐sections may result in wrong interpretations. Changes in the proportions of the fibre type distribution pattern were mostly due to oxidative and glycolytic fibre types, whereas the percentage of oxidative‐glycolytic fibres had only minor influence. A significant positive correlation between the cross‐sectional area of the single fibre and its percentage in the area investigated were observed for oxidative fibres, whereby the size was positive correlated to the proportion of the oxidative fibres.     

Fine structure of the parotid gland in the pika and the volcano rabbit

The parotid glands of the pika and the volcano rabbit were examined by light and transmission electron microscopy. The acinar cells of the pika consisted of light cells containing basophilic granules of low density, while in the volcano rabbit the acinar cells consisted of light and dark cells containing acidophilic granules of moderate density. Intercalated duct cells were composed of light cells containing a few granules of moderate density. These segments of the two animals were similar in morphology. The striated duct cells in both species were composed of light and dark cells. Most of those in the pika contained a few moderately dense granules. In both animals, no myoepithelial cells were detected around the acini, intercalated ducts or striated ducts, while nerve terminals were observed among the adjacent acinar cells.     

Fine structure of the mandibular gland in Japanese field vole (Microtus montebelli)

The mandibular glands of the Japanese field vole were examined by light microscopy, and transmission and scanning electron microscopies. The acinar cells contained light and coarse secretory granules, and reacted with PAS and stained slightly with AB; they were considered to be seromucous in nature. The acinar epithelium was composed of light and dark cells containing many secretory granules. The intercalated duct cells consisted of light cells possessing a few dense granules. A few cytoplasmic crystalloides of moderate density were observed in occasional light cells. The striated ducts were comprized of two distinct portions, a secretory portion and a typical striated portion without secretory granules. The epithelium secretory portion consisted of light and dark cells containing acidophilic granules and exhibited a sexual dimorphism in these granules: The male epithelia contained the granules of low to high densities, while the female epithelia had only dense granules being smaller than those in the males. The epithelium of typical striated portion was composed of light and dark cells containing fine vacuoles and vesicles.     

Biological features of the skin of the pika, Ochotona rufescens rufescens--concentration of histamine in the skin

The quantity of histamine and the number of mast cells in the skin of the pika were measured and compared with rabbits, guinea pigs and rats. The ranking of regional histamine levels in the skin of the pika was: perianal region greater than abdomen greater than interscapular region = back greater than lumbus greater than head greater than auricle, and the average value of the 7 regions was 22.6 micrograms/g. The level of histamine in the 6 regions, except the auricle, was 2-5 times that of rabbits and guinea pigs. In the auricle of each of the 4 kinds of animal (pika, rabbit, guinea pig and rat), the levels were almost identical. With respect to histamine levels, those in the pika resembled those in rats. The number of mast cells in the skin of the pika was less than in rats, and was greater than that in rabbits and guinea pigs. The average value was 9.9/mm2.     

Fine structure of the mandibular gland of the Djungarian hamster (Phodopus sungarus)

The mandibular gland of the Djungarian hamster was examined by light microscopy, and transmission and scanning electron microscopies. Its acinar cells reacted with periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) and were weakly stained with alcian blue (AB). There were intercellular canaliculi between the acinar cells. These cells therefore appeared to be seromucous. The acinar epithelium was composed of light cells containing various spherical secretory granules. The granular cells of the mandibular gland possessed many acidophilic granules exhibiting a positive reaction to PAS stain. They were frequently observed at the junction of the acini and intercalated ducts in all mandibular glands examined. All of these cells were light and contained secretory granules of varying size and density. The intercalated ducts consisted exclusively of light cells possessing a few round granules of high density in the apical region. The striated ducts were comprised of two portions--a secretory portion and a typical striated portion without secretory granules. The secretory portion consisted of light, dark and specifically light epithelial cells containing acidophilic granules, which exhibited a strongly positive PAS reaction. The epithelium of typically striated portions was composed of light and dark cells containing fine vacuoles in the apical region. The mandibular gland of the Djungarian hamster revealed no histological differences between sexes.     

Fine structure of the mandibular gland in volcano rabbit

The mandibular glands of 6 male and 6 female volcano rabbits were examined by means of light and transmission electron microscopy. The acinar cells of the glands were seromucous in nature, and contained faintly basophilic granules. The cells were classified into the light cells containing granules of low or moderate densities and the clear cells having polygonal granules of low density. The preacinar cells were occasionally observed at the site between acinus and intercalated duct. These cells had many weakly basophilic granules which contained fine granular materials of moderate density. The intercalated ducts were composed of light cells containing cored granules. The striated duct cells consisted of light cells and dark cells. Both of them contained a few vacuoles and vesicles, but no secretory granules. No sex-and age-related differences were observed in the mandibular gland of the volcano rabbit. The mandibular gland of the volcano rabbit was similar to the rabbit mandibular gland rather than the pika mandibular gland morphologically.     

Joint study on the teratogenic sensitivity of the Pika (Ochotona rufescens rufescens) to selected drugs

A collaborative study was conducted to investigate the teratological susceptibility of the Pika (Ochotona rufescens rufescens) to selected teratogenic chemicals: cyclophosphamide, 6-mercaptopurine, 5-fluorouracil, 6-aminonicotinamide, actinomycin D, ethylurethan, ampicillin, tetracycline, thalidomide, diphenylhydantoin, hypervitaminosis A, aspirin, dexamethasone, betamethasone and bredinin. Some of the chemicals were shown to be teratogenic in the Pika, but this animal was generally more resistant to their teratogenicity than the rabbit and rodents. In the Pika, thalidomide did not induce any typical limb defects, which have been produced in the rabbit. Pikas reproduce well and appear to have no substantial disadvantages as an animal species for teratological studies. Thus, the Pika may be useful as a new non-rodent species for teratological testings.     

Opioid receptor types in the brain of the Afghan pika (Ochotona rufescens), a species which is naturally tolerant to morphine

The rabbit is normally sensitive to morphine while another lagomorph, the Afghan pika Ochotona rufescens is naturally tolerant to the analgesic effects elicited by the opium alkaloid. In spite of the different responsiveness of the two species to morphine we find that the pika brain and the rabbit brain both contain a mixture of mu-, delta- and kappa-opioid sites in nearly the same proportions: 46-47% mu, 23% delta and 28-30% kappa. Moreover, apparent binding of morphine in pika and rabbit brain membranes is inhibited in the presence of Na+ ions and/or of 5-guanylylimidodiphosphate indicating that morphine should behave as an opiate agonist (analgesic) not only in rabbits, which it does but also in pikas, which it does not. Taken together these results suggest that the natural tolerance of the Afghan pika to morphine may not reside in modified opioid receptor types and that its origin should be sought elsewhere.