Determination of Giardia lamblia cyst infective dose for the Mongolian gerbil (Meriones unguiculatus).

The purpose of this study was to determine the 50% infective dose for Giardia lamblia (CDC:0284:1) cysts in Mongolian gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus). The log10 50% infective dose results calculated by probit analysis and the Spearman-Karber method were 2.45 and 2.50, respectively.     

Weak mixed lymphocyte culture response in the Mongolian gerbil (Meriones unguiculatus).

A study was made to determine whether the mixed lymphocyte culture test could detect histocompatibility differences between two strains of the Mongolian gerbil, Meriones unguiculatus. A semi-micro mixed lymphocyte culture was developed using 6 X 10(5) stimulating and responding cells per 0.12 ml culture volume at a ratio of 1:1. A culture period of 120 hours was found to be optimal. Although a weak allogeneic response was demonstrated with the Uclp:(MON) strain responding to stimulating cells from the MON/Tum strain, the reverse was not seen. A mixed lymphocyte reaction to xenogeneic (mouse) cells was demonstrated, and response to the mitogen, phytohemagglutinin, was strong. These data and the low stimulation index obtained in allogeneic culture supported the view that histocompatibility differences among different strains of the Mongolian gerbil are weak.     

Infectivity of cryopreserved Giardia cysts for Mongolian gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus)

Although Giardia species trophozoites have been cryopreserved successfully, no report on the successful cryopreservation of cysts could be found. Using infectivity to Mongolian gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus) as a measure of cyst viability, we tested the viability of 4 strains of Giardia cysts that had been cryopreserved for 1-67 wk. Cysts were frozen in either Keister's medium or physiological saline, both containing 5% or 7.5% dimethylsulfoxide as the cryoprotectant. Viability of cryopreserved cysts was dependent upon the number of cysts inoculated, the length of time cysts were held at 4 C before cryopreservation, and the cryopreserving medium. Infection was established in gerbils by inoculating them with cysts that had been cryopreserved for up to 67 wk, cysts that had been held for less than 30 days before cryopreservation, and cysts frozen in Keister's medium. Saline appears to be unsuitable as a freezing medium for the cryopreservation of Giardia cysts.     

Aldehyde dehydrogenase of the Mongolian gerbil, Meriones unguiculatus.

The aldehyde dehydrogenase (Aldehyde:NAD(P) oxidoreductase E.C. 1.2.1.3. and 1.2.1.5) phenotype in several tissues of the Mongolian gerbil, Meriones unguiculatus, has been established. The tissue distribution of gerbil aldehyde dehydrogenase is similar to that of the rat, with liver possessing the majority of the aldehyde dehydrognease activity. Male kidney and testis possess significantly more activity than female kidney and ovary. The substrate and co-enzyme specificity of gerbil liver aldehyde dehydrogenase is also similar to that of rat and mouse liver. Gel isoelectric focusing resolves one major gerbil liver aldehyde dehydrogenase isozyme at pI 5.3. Mouse liver is resolved into two major isozymes at pIs 5.3 and 5.6 and rat liver aldehyde dehydrogenase into one major isozyme at pI 5.4. Gerbil liver aldehyde dehydrogenase is functional over a broad pH range with an optima at pH 9.0. Rat and mouse liver aldehyde dehydrogenase possess sharp pH optima at pH 8.5.     

Naturally-occurring neoplasms in the Mongolian gerbil, Meriones unguiculatus.

10 spontaneous tumours were observed. Several had not been previously reported for this species and 1 occurred in the youngest gerbil yet reported to have a spontaneous tumour. 7 of the 10 tumours originated from the female reproductive tract.     

Sister chromatid exchange in the Mongolian gerbil, Meriones unguiculatus

Sister chromatid exchange (SCE) studies have been performed in a variety of animals, both in vitro and in vivo, as well as in plants. To date, no such studies have been performed in any member of the gerbil sub-family (Gerbillinae). A new sister chromatid differential staining method was used with mice in vivo and has now been applied to the Mongolian gerbil, Meriones unguiculatus. With some modifications, this in vivo method was found to be highly reproducible in gerbils, and had consistently produced many metaphase cells with clear sister chromatid differentiation. The method involves subcutaneous implantation of a 50 mg slow-release BrdU pellet, the fluorochrome Hoechst 33258, phosphate buffering at pH 6.8, and incandescent light exposure.     

Innervation of the pineal gland in the Mongolian gerbil (Meriones unguiculatus)

Summary Parasympathetic stimulation of parotid glands has been studied in vivo, a) in normal resting glands, b) 72 h after post-ganglionic sympathectomy and c) after adrenergic degranulation of the acinar cells.Morphological results in each gland were compared with a similarly pretreated, but not parasympathetically stimulated, contralateral gland from the same animal.On parasympathetic stimulation of glands with densely granulated acinar cells (groups a- and b-) a variable, but usually relatively small, tendency for vacuole formation occurred in some cells. After prior degranulation of the cells (group c-) the tendency for vacuole formation was greatly accentuated. This indicates that the pre-existing metabolic state of the cells can influence the responses to stimulation of a single nerve. Dilatation of rough endoplasmic reticulum and nuclear changes were also more prominent after parasympathetic stimulation of previously degranulated acinar cells, and this suggests that parasympathetic impulses may have strong activating effects on resynthesis under these conditions. It is also likely that parasympathetic stimulation induced some, albeit small, degree of degranulation and, since this occurred in the absence of sympathetic nerves (group b-) it was probably the consequence of a direct cholinergic effect. The present results therefore indicate that the concept of an absolute dichotomy between parasympathetic and sympathetic responses is not tenable in this tissue.Analyses of saliva for amylase and peroxidase gave complex results but indicate that the two enzymes are not necessarily secreted in parallel. The morphological results support the idea that some enzyme molecules may have entered the saliva without being prepackaged into secretory granules, but could have passed directly from dilated cisterns of rough endoplasmic reticulum into intra-cellular vacuoles, and this tendency was most apparent after para-sympathetic stimulation of previously degranulated cells.Travel grants from the Wellcome Trust to J.R. Garrett are gratefully acknowledged. This work has been helped by the technical assistance of Mr. P.S.A. RowleyM.R.C. Research Assistant     

Development of the squamosomandibular articulation in the Mongolian gerbil (Meriones unguiculatus). II. Succinate dehydrogenase activity

Synopsis Succinate dehydrogenase activity has been studied, according to the method of Nachlaset al. (1957), in the developing tissues forming the squamosomandibular articulation in the Mongolian gerbil from its inception through the sixth postnatal day. Increased activity was observed in the chondroblasts, osteoblasts and mesenchymal tissues of the developing articulation. The chondroclasts of the developing mandibular condyle displayed intense reaction as did the osteoclasts of the developing bony articulation. Succinate dehydrogenase activity appeared to be related to the functional maturity of the cellular elements of the developing joint.     

长爪沙鼠家庭内的攻击行为可调整其生理特征

长爪沙鼠家庭动态变化所导致的社群压力是一个很少被描述的现象。本研究测定了72只长爪沙鼠的一些生理参数,包括器官重(肝脏、肾脏和脾脏)和血液的生化指标(胆固醇、甘油三酯、葡萄糖和丙氨酸转氨酶)。此外,对家庭内攻击过程中动物的全血细胞数变化也进行了检测。以家庭为单位,所有动物被置于半圈养的实验室条件下,自由取食和饮水。家庭内被攻击的雄性个体的腹下腺显著减小(Mann-WhitneyU-TestU=48.0,P=0.04)。以绝对体重和去脂体重校正后,受到攻击个体的肝脏重量也显著高于未受攻击的个体(肝脏绝对重量Mann-WhitneyU-TestU=169,P=0.02;肝脏相对重量即占去脂体重的百分比U=166,P=0.02),但肾脏重量则显著低于未受攻击的个体(绝对肾脏重量Mann-WhitneyU-TestU=183.5,P=0.04;相对肾脏重量U=137,P=0.005)。被攻击个体的白细胞(U=11.0,P=0.02)和血小板(U=6.0,P=0.004)都显著增加。同时也发现分解作用产生的代谢物有所不同。被攻击的个体具有较高的胆固醇含量(U=13.5,P=0.005)和较低的丙氨酸转氨酶含量(U=13.0,P=0.006)。结果表明家庭内的攻击行为是直接针对那些地位较低的成员,导致其能量物质的释放增加,同时激活了免疫系统以应对由于攻击导致的身体损伤的增加。     

Non-specific resistance to Babesia divergens in the Mongolian gerbil (Meriones unguiculatus)

Inoculation of mature gerbils with BCG gave protection to subsequent infection with B. divergens when inoculated by the intracardiac and intraperitoneal routes, the latter showing a dose dependent relationship. BCG vaccination was most effective in immature gerbils (less than 4 weeks old), which are innately resistant to B. divergens. Vaccination of gerbils with killed Propionesbacterium acne and zymosan A failed to elicit a protective response, which contrasts conspicuously with rodent babesia studies. Incubation of B. divergens-infected gerbil blood with hydrogen peroxide produced parasite inhibition only at the highest concentration and treatment of parasitized gerbils with the oxidative radical inducer, alloxan monohydrate, gave equivocal results so it is evident that, unlike Plasmodium spp., B. divergens is not significantly susceptible to the action of reactive oxygen forms.