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Zucão MI, Grigio V, Guerra LHA, Antoniassi JQ, Castro NFDC, Taboga SR, Vilamaior PSL. Aging effects in adrenal cortex of male Mongolian gerbil: A model for endocrine studies. Steroids 2024; 203:109366. [PMID: 38242273 DOI: 10.1016/j.steroids.2024.109366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2023] [Revised: 11/28/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 01/21/2024]
Abstract
The adrenal gland produces steroid hormones that act in the homeostasis of organisms. During aging, alterations in the hormonal balance affect the adrenal glands, but these have not yet been fully described due to the lack of adequate animal models. The adrenal gland of the Mongolian gerbil has a morphology similar to the primate's adrenal gland, which makes it a possible animal model for endocrine studies. Therefore, the current study aimed to study the morphophysiology of the adrenal gland under the effect of aging. For this purpose, males Meriones unguiculatus, aged three, six, nine, twelve, and fifteen months were used. Morphometric, immunohistochemical, and hormonal analyses were performed. It was observed that during aging the adrenal gland presents hypertrophy of the fasciculata and reticularis zones. Lipofuscin accumulation was observed during aging, in addition to changes in proliferation, cell death, and cell receptors. The analyses also showed that the gerbil presents steroidogenic enzymes and the production of steroid hormones, such as DHEA, like that found in humans. The data provide the first comprehensive assessment of the morphophysiology of the Mongolian gerbil adrenal cortex during aging, indicating that this species is a possible experimental model for studies of the adrenal gland and aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariele Ilario Zucão
- Department of Biological Sciences, Institute of Biosciences, Humanities and Exact Sciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Vitor Grigio
- Department of Biological Sciences, Institute of Biosciences, Humanities and Exact Sciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Luiz Henrique Alves Guerra
- Department of Biological Sciences, Institute of Biosciences, Humanities and Exact Sciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Julia Quilles Antoniassi
- Department of Structural and Functional Biology, Institute of Biology, State University of Campinas (UNICAMP), São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Nayara Fernanda da Costa Castro
- Department of Biological Sciences, Institute of Biosciences, Humanities and Exact Sciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Sebastião Roberto Taboga
- Department of Biological Sciences, Institute of Biosciences, Humanities and Exact Sciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), São Paulo, Brazil; Department of Structural and Functional Biology, Institute of Biology, State University of Campinas (UNICAMP), São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Patricia Simone Leite Vilamaior
- Department of Biological Sciences, Institute of Biosciences, Humanities and Exact Sciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), São Paulo, Brazil.
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Ruiz TFR, Vilamaior PSL, Grigio V, Colleta SJ, Zucão MI, de Campos SGP, Dos Santos FCA, Biancardi MF, Perez APS, Taboga SR, Leonel ECR. The Mongolian Gerbil as a Useful Experimental Model in Reproductive Biology. Reprod Sci 2023; 30:2092-2106. [PMID: 36696041 DOI: 10.1007/s43032-023-01171-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2022] [Accepted: 01/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Ultimately, the Mongolian gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus) have acquired a relevant role in biological and biomedical experiments alongside other rodents. The use of gerbils in research has been mainly oriented to physiological and pharmacological studies, with special attention to nervous, digestive, and auditory systems as well as microbiology and parasitology. Ultimately, gerbils have also been applied for studying carcinogenesis in different organs and systems, since these animals show a natural propensity to develop spontaneous proliferative lesions, especially in steroid-responsive organs. This characteristic shed light on the reproductive aspects of this rodent model regarding morphological features in male and female individuals. This review of literature summarizes the significance of this model as an alternative to the use of inbred mice and rats in reproductive experimental research, highlighting recent findings. Gerbils have contributed to the expansion of knowledge in prostate biology in male and female individuals, providing studies related to prostatic morphogenesis and neoplasia. In the testes, spermiogenesis occurs in 15 steps, differently from other experimental models. Also, the complete maturation of the testis-epididymal complex occurs between the second and third months. Mammary gland alterations related to the estrous cycle and pregnancy were described, as well as its modulation under endogenous and exogenous estrogenic compounds. The ovaries frequently present ovarian cysts. Furthermore, this organ shows predominantly interstitial steroidogenic glands in the stroma, especially at aging. Adrenal gland shows a large size compared to other animals, presenting three distinct zones with a remarkable role in steroidogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thalles Fernando Rocha Ruiz
- Department of Biology, Institute of Biosciences, Humanities and Exact Sciences, São Paulo State University, Rua Cristóvão Colombo, 2265 Jardim Nazareth, São José Do Rio Preto, SP, 15054-000, Brazil
- Institute of Biology, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, Brazil
| | - Patricia Simone Leite Vilamaior
- Department of Biology, Institute of Biosciences, Humanities and Exact Sciences, São Paulo State University, Rua Cristóvão Colombo, 2265 Jardim Nazareth, São José Do Rio Preto, SP, 15054-000, Brazil
| | - Vitor Grigio
- Department of Biology, Institute of Biosciences, Humanities and Exact Sciences, São Paulo State University, Rua Cristóvão Colombo, 2265 Jardim Nazareth, São José Do Rio Preto, SP, 15054-000, Brazil
| | - Simone Jacovaci Colleta
- Department of Biology, Institute of Biosciences, Humanities and Exact Sciences, São Paulo State University, Rua Cristóvão Colombo, 2265 Jardim Nazareth, São José Do Rio Preto, SP, 15054-000, Brazil
| | - Mariele Ilario Zucão
- Department of Biology, Institute of Biosciences, Humanities and Exact Sciences, São Paulo State University, Rua Cristóvão Colombo, 2265 Jardim Nazareth, São José Do Rio Preto, SP, 15054-000, Brazil
| | - Silvana Gisele Pegorin de Campos
- Department of Biology, Institute of Biosciences, Humanities and Exact Sciences, São Paulo State University, Rua Cristóvão Colombo, 2265 Jardim Nazareth, São José Do Rio Preto, SP, 15054-000, Brazil
| | - Fernanda Cristina Alcântara Dos Santos
- Department of Histology, Embryology and Cell Biology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Goiás, Avenida Esperança, S/N, Câmpus Samambaia, Goiânia, Goiás, 74690-900, Brazil
| | - Manoel Francisco Biancardi
- Department of Histology, Embryology and Cell Biology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Goiás, Avenida Esperança, S/N, Câmpus Samambaia, Goiânia, Goiás, 74690-900, Brazil
| | - Ana Paula Silva Perez
- Academic Unit of Health Sciences, Medicine Course, Federal University of Jataí, BR 36, Km 195, Jataí, Goiás, 75801-615, Brazil
| | - Sebastião Roberto Taboga
- Department of Biology, Institute of Biosciences, Humanities and Exact Sciences, São Paulo State University, Rua Cristóvão Colombo, 2265 Jardim Nazareth, São José Do Rio Preto, SP, 15054-000, Brazil
| | - Ellen Cristina Rivas Leonel
- Department of Histology, Embryology and Cell Biology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Goiás, Avenida Esperança, S/N, Câmpus Samambaia, Goiânia, Goiás, 74690-900, Brazil.
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Cooper TK, Meyerholz DK, Beck AP, Delaney MA, Piersigilli A, Southard TL, Brayton CF. Research-Relevant Conditions and Pathology of Laboratory Mice, Rats, Gerbils, Guinea Pigs, Hamsters, Naked Mole Rats, and Rabbits. ILAR J 2022; 62:77-132. [PMID: 34979559 DOI: 10.1093/ilar/ilab022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2021] [Accepted: 05/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Animals are valuable resources in biomedical research in investigations of biological processes, disease pathogenesis, therapeutic interventions, safety, toxicity, and carcinogenicity. Interpretation of data from animals requires knowledge not only of the processes or diseases (pathophysiology) under study but also recognition of spontaneous conditions and background lesions (pathology) that can influence or confound the study results. Species, strain/stock, sex, age, anatomy, physiology, spontaneous diseases (noninfectious and infectious), and neoplasia impact experimental results and interpretation as well as animal welfare. This review and the references selected aim to provide a pathology resource for researchers, pathologists, and veterinary personnel who strive to achieve research rigor and validity and must understand the spectrum of "normal" and expected conditions to accurately identify research-relevant experimental phenotypes as well as unusual illness, pathology, or other conditions that can compromise studies involving laboratory mice, rats, gerbils, guinea pigs, hamsters, naked mole rats, and rabbits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy K Cooper
- Department of Comparative Medicine, Penn State Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, PA, USA
| | - David K Meyerholz
- Department of Pathology, University of Iowa Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
| | - Amanda P Beck
- Department of Pathology, Yeshiva University Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, USA
| | - Martha A Delaney
- Zoological Pathology Program, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign College of Veterinary Medicine, Urbana-Champaign, Illinois, USA
| | - Alessandra Piersigilli
- Laboratory of Comparative Pathology and the Genetically Modified Animal Phenotyping Service, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA
| | - Teresa L Southard
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, Ithaca, New York, USA
| | - Cory F Brayton
- Department of Molecular and Comparative Pathobiology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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Ruiz TFR, Colleta SJ, Zuccari DAPDC, Vilamaior PSL, Leonel ECR, Taboga SR. Hormone receptor expression in aging mammary tissue and carcinoma from a rodent model after xenoestrogen disruption. Life Sci 2021; 285:120010. [PMID: 34606849 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2021.120010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2021] [Revised: 09/27/2021] [Accepted: 09/28/2021] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
AIMS Hormone receptors are the main markers applied for prognosis of breast cancer subtypes. Among modulators, exogenous chemical agents known as endocrine disruptors interact with certain receptors, triggering molecular pathways or increasing their expression. Bisphenol A (BPA), a xenoestrogen, interacts with several hormone receptors. Thus, our aim was to characterize the hormone receptor status in the mammary gland (MG) of aged female Mongolian gerbils exposed to BPA in pregnancy and lactation. METHODS We evaluated the expression of receptors for estrogens (ERα and ERβ), progesterone (PR), prolactin (PRL-R), HER2/ErbB2, and androgen (AR) in normal and hyperplastic mammary tissue and in carcinomas developed after BPA exposure. KEY FINDINGS BPA-exposed MG presented increased ERα, whereas ERβ, PR, and PRL-R showed lower expression. AR and HER2/ErbB2 showed similar expression in normal and hyperplastic tissue from control, vehicle, and BPA groups. Both receptors were found in cytoplasm and nucleus in BPA-induced carcinoma. We demonstrate the presence of EZH2 expression, an epigenetic and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) marker, with a high H-score in BPA-exposed MG, which was associated with poor prognosis of cancer. Co-localization of ERα and EZH2 was present in normal and carcinoma features, corroborating the installation of ERα-positive mammary cancer associated with the EMT process. Enhanced EZH2 in BPA-exposed mammary tissue could decrease ERβ expression and promote tumorigenesis progress through HER2/ErbB2. SIGNIFICANCE The present study proposes the Mongolian gerbil as an experimental model for mammary carcinogenesis studies, based on BPA disruption that triggers a phenotype of increased ERα/HER2 positivity and depletion of ERβ/PR expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thalles Fernando Rocha Ruiz
- Department of Biology, Institute of Biosciences, Humanities and Exact Sciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Rua Cristóvão Colombo 2265, Jardim Nazareth, 15054-000 São José do Rio Preto, São Paulo, Brazil.
| | - Simone Jacovaci Colleta
- Department of Biology, Institute of Biosciences, Humanities and Exact Sciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Rua Cristóvão Colombo 2265, Jardim Nazareth, 15054-000 São José do Rio Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Patrícia Simone Leite Vilamaior
- Department of Biology, Institute of Biosciences, Humanities and Exact Sciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Rua Cristóvão Colombo 2265, Jardim Nazareth, 15054-000 São José do Rio Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Ellen Cristina Rivas Leonel
- Department of Histology, Embryology and Cell Biology, Institute of Biological Sciences (ICB III), Federal University of Goiás (UFG), Avenida Esperança, s/n, Campus Samambaia, 74001-970 Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil
| | - Sebastião Roberto Taboga
- Department of Biology, Institute of Biosciences, Humanities and Exact Sciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Rua Cristóvão Colombo 2265, Jardim Nazareth, 15054-000 São José do Rio Preto, São Paulo, Brazil.
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Sex differences in the auditory functions of rodents. Hear Res 2021; 419:108271. [PMID: 34074560 DOI: 10.1016/j.heares.2021.108271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2020] [Revised: 04/07/2021] [Accepted: 04/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In humans, it is well known that females have better hearing than males. The mechanism of this influence of sex on auditory function in humans is not well understood. Testing the hypothesis of underlying mechanisms often relies on preclinical research, a field in which sex bias still exists unconsciously. Rodents are popular research models in hearing, thus it is crucial to understand the sex differences in these rodent models when studying health and disease in humans. OBJECTIVES This review aims to summarize the existing sex differences in the auditory functions of rodent species including mouse, rat, Guinea pig, Mongolian gerbil, and chinchilla. In addition, a concise summary of the hearing characteristics and the advantages and the drawbacks of conducting auditory experiments in each rodent species is provided. DESIGNS Manuscripts were identified in PubMed and Ovid Medline for the queries "Rodent", "Sex Characteristics", and "Hearing or Auditory Function". Manuscripts were included if they were original research, written in English, and use rodents. The content of each manuscript was screened for the sex of the rodents and the discussion of sex-based results. CONCLUSIONS The sex differences in auditory function of rodents are prevalent and influenced by multiple factors including physiological mechanisms, sex-based anatomical variations, and stimuli from the external environment. Such differences may play a role in understanding and explaining sex differences in hearing of humans and need to be taken into consideration for developing clinical therapies aim to improve auditory performances.
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Prenatal and pubertal exposure to 17α-ethinylestradiol disrupts folliculogenesis and promotes morphophysiological changes in ovaries of old gerbils ( Meriones unguiculatus). J Dev Orig Health Dis 2021; 13:49-60. [PMID: 33650479 DOI: 10.1017/s2040174421000040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
17α-Ethinylestradiol is an endocrine-disrupting chemical that make up most contraceptive pills and can be found in the environment. Exposure to ethinylestradiol in different development periods may promote changes in morphophysiological parameters of reproductive and endocrine organs. Considering that the effects of low doses (15 µg/kg/day) of ethinylestradiol in ovaries from 12-month-old female gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus) were investigated. Four experimental groups used were control (without treatment), EE/PRE (treated from the 18th to the 22nd gestational day), EE/PUB (treated from the 42nd to the 49th day of life), and EE/PRE-PUB (treated in the both periods). The animals were euthanized at 12 months. Testosterone and 17β-estradiol levels were measured. The ovaries were stained with Hematoxylin and Eosin, Periodic Acid Schiff, and Gomori's Trichome. The follicles, corpus luteum, interstitial gland, lipofuscin, ovarian epithelium, and tunica albuginea were analyzed. Estradiol was higher in EE/PRE and EE/PUB groups, while testosterone was higher only in EE/PUB group. The main changes in follicle count occurred in EE/PUB and EE/PRE-PUB groups, with higher primordial follicle count and lower maturation of follicles. The corpus luteum was more evident in EE/PRE group. No differences were found in atretic follicles count. A higher area occupied by interstitial gland cells and lipofuscin deposit in these cells was noted in EE/PUB and EE/PRE-PUB groups. Higher epithelium height and thicker tunic albuginea were showed in treated groups. These results suggest that exposure to doses of EE2 in prenatal and pubertal periods of the development leads to morphological changes in senile ovaries.
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Ahn JH, Park JH, Lee TK, Yang GE, Shin MC, Cho JH, Won MH, Lee CH. Age‑dependent alterations in the immunoreactivity of macrophage inflammatory protein‑3α and its receptor CCR6 in the gerbil hippocampus. Mol Med Rep 2020; 22:1317-1324. [PMID: 32627009 PMCID: PMC7339448 DOI: 10.3892/mmr.2020.11216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2020] [Accepted: 05/21/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Neuroinflammation is a primary characteristic of the aging brain. During normal aging, macrophage inflammatory protein-3α (MIP-3α) and its receptor C-C chemokine receptor type 6 (CCR6) serve pivotal roles in the neuroinflammatory process in the brain. The aim of the present study was to investigate age-dependent alterations in the immunoreactivity of MIP-3α and CCR6 in the gerbil hippocampus at postnatal month (PM) 1, 6, 12 and 24 via immunohistochemistry. In the PM 1 group, both MIP-3α and CCR6 immunoreactivity were observed primarily in the stratum pyramidale in the hippocampus proper and in the granule cell layer in the dentate gyrus. In the PM 6 and PM 12 groups, MIP-3α in the stratum pyramidale and granule cell layer was decreased compared with the PM 1 group, and CCR6 immunoreactivity in both layers was faint. In the PM 24 group, MIP-3α expression in the stratum pyramidale and granule cell layer was higher than that in the PM 1 group, and CCR6 immunoreactivity in both layers was increased compared with the PM 12 group; however, it was decreased compared with the PM 1 group. In conclusion, MIP-3α and CCR6 immunoreactivity were altered in the hippocampus during normal aging. The results of the current study suggested that age-dependent alterations of MIP-3α and CCR6 may be associated with age-related neuroinflammation in the hippocampus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ji Hyeon Ahn
- Department of Biomedical Science, Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Hallym University, Chuncheon, Gangwon 24252, Republic of Korea
| | - Joon Ha Park
- Department of Anatomy, College of Korean Medicine, Dongguk University, Gyeongju, Gyeongsangbuk 38066, Republic of Korea
| | - Tae-Kyung Lee
- Department of Biomedical Science, Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Hallym University, Chuncheon, Gangwon 24252, Republic of Korea
| | - Go Eun Yang
- Department of Radiology, Kangwon National University Hospital, Chuncheon, Gangwon 24289, Republic of Korea
| | - Myoung Cheol Shin
- Department of Emergency Medicine and Institute of Medical Sciences, Kangwon National University Hospital, School of Medicine, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, Gangwon 24289, Republic of Korea
| | - Jun Hwi Cho
- Department of Emergency Medicine and Institute of Medical Sciences, Kangwon National University Hospital, School of Medicine, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, Gangwon 24289, Republic of Korea
| | - Moo-Ho Won
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Medicine, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, Gangwon 24341, Republic of Korea
| | - Choong-Hyun Lee
- Department of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Dankook University, Cheonan, Chungcheongnam 31116, Republic of Korea
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Cheng S, Fu Y, Zhang Y, Xian W, Wang H, Grothe B, Liu X, Xu X, Klug A, McCullagh EA. Enhancement of de novo sequencing, assembly and annotation of the Mongolian gerbil genome with transcriptome sequencing and assembly from several different tissues. BMC Genomics 2019; 20:903. [PMID: 31775624 PMCID: PMC6882081 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-019-6276-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2019] [Accepted: 11/12/2019] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Mongolian gerbil (Meriones unguiculatus) has historically been used as a model organism for the auditory and visual systems, stroke/ischemia, epilepsy and aging related research since 1935 when laboratory gerbils were separated from their wild counterparts. In this study we report genome sequencing, assembly, and annotation further supported by transcriptome sequencing and assembly from 27 different tissues samples. RESULTS The genome was sequenced using Illumina HiSeq 2000 and after assembly resulted in a final genome size of 2.54 Gbp with contig and scaffold N50 values of 31.4 Kbp and 500.0 Kbp, respectively. Based on the k-mer estimated genome size of 2.48 Gbp, the assembly appears to be complete. The genome annotation was supported by transcriptome data that identified 31,769 (> 2000 bp) predicted protein-coding genes across 27 tissue samples. A BUSCO search of 3023 mammalian groups resulted in 86% of curated single copy orthologs present among predicted genes, indicating a high level of completeness of the genome. CONCLUSIONS We report the first de novo assembly of the Mongolian gerbil genome enhanced by assembly of transcriptome data from several tissues. Sequencing of this genome and transcriptome increases the utility of the gerbil as a model organism, opening the availability of now widely used genetic tools.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shifeng Cheng
- BGI-Shenzhen, Beishan Industrial Zone, Yantian District, Shenzhen, 518083 China
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Genomics, BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, 51803 China
| | - Yuan Fu
- BGI-Shenzhen, Beishan Industrial Zone, Yantian District, Shenzhen, 518083 China
- China National GeneBank, BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, 518083 China
| | - Yaolei Zhang
- BGI-Shenzhen, Beishan Industrial Zone, Yantian District, Shenzhen, 518083 China
- China National GeneBank, BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, 518083 China
| | - Wenfei Xian
- BGI-Shenzhen, Beishan Industrial Zone, Yantian District, Shenzhen, 518083 China
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Genomics, BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, 51803 China
| | - Hongli Wang
- BGI-Shenzhen, Beishan Industrial Zone, Yantian District, Shenzhen, 518083 China
- China National GeneBank, BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, 518083 China
| | - Benedikt Grothe
- Division of Neurobiology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitaet Munich, 82152 Planegg, Martinsried Germany
| | - Xin Liu
- BGI-Shenzhen, Beishan Industrial Zone, Yantian District, Shenzhen, 518083 China
- China National GeneBank, BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, 518083 China
| | - Xun Xu
- BGI-Shenzhen, Beishan Industrial Zone, Yantian District, Shenzhen, 518083 China
- China National GeneBank, BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen, 518083 China
| | - Achim Klug
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, School of Medicine, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, CO 80045 USA
| | - Elizabeth A. McCullagh
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, School of Medicine, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, CO 80045 USA
- Present Address: Department of Integrative Biology, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74074 USA
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Macharadze T, Budinger E, Brosch M, Scheich H, Ohl FW, Henschke JU. Early Sensory Loss Alters the Dendritic Branching and Spine Density of Supragranular Pyramidal Neurons in Rodent Primary Sensory Cortices. Front Neural Circuits 2019; 13:61. [PMID: 31611778 PMCID: PMC6773815 DOI: 10.3389/fncir.2019.00061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2019] [Accepted: 09/03/2019] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Multisensory integration in primary auditory (A1), visual (V1), and somatosensory cortex (S1) is substantially mediated by their direct interconnections and by thalamic inputs across the sensory modalities. We have previously shown in rodents (Mongolian gerbils) that during postnatal development, the anatomical and functional strengths of these crossmodal and also of sensory matched connections are determined by early auditory, somatosensory, and visual experience. Because supragranular layer III pyramidal neurons are major targets of corticocortical and thalamocortical connections, we investigated in this follow-up study how the loss of early sensory experience changes their dendritic morphology. Gerbils were sensory deprived early in development by either bilateral sciatic nerve transection at postnatal day (P) 5, ototoxic inner hair cell damage at P10, or eye enucleation at P10. Sholl and branch order analyses of Golgi-stained layer III pyramidal neurons at P28, which demarcates the end of the sensory critical period in this species, revealed that visual and somatosensory deprivation leads to a general increase of apical and basal dendritic branching in A1, V1, and S1. In contrast, dendritic branching, particularly of apical dendrites, decreased in all three areas following auditory deprivation. Generally, the number of spines, and consequently spine density, along the apical and basal dendrites decreased in both sensory deprived and non-deprived cortical areas. Therefore, we conclude that the loss of early sensory experience induces a refinement of corticocortical crossmodal and other cortical and thalamic connections by pruning of dendritic spines at the end of the critical period. Based on present and previous own results and on findings from the literature, we propose a scenario for multisensory development following early sensory loss.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamar Macharadze
- Department Systems Physiology of Learning, Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology, Magdeburg, Germany.,Clinic for Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Otto von Guericke University Hospital, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Eike Budinger
- Department Systems Physiology of Learning, Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology, Magdeburg, Germany.,Center for Behavioral Brain Sciences, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Michael Brosch
- Center for Behavioral Brain Sciences, Magdeburg, Germany.,Special Lab Primate Neurobiology, Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Henning Scheich
- Center for Behavioral Brain Sciences, Magdeburg, Germany.,Emeritus Group Lifelong Learning, Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Frank W Ohl
- Department Systems Physiology of Learning, Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology, Magdeburg, Germany.,Center for Behavioral Brain Sciences, Magdeburg, Germany.,Institute for Biology, Otto von Guericke University, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Julia U Henschke
- Institute of Cognitive Neurology and Dementia Research (IKND), Otto von Guericke University, Magdeburg, Germany
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10
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Henschke JU, Ohl FW, Budinger E. Crossmodal Connections of Primary Sensory Cortices Largely Vanish During Normal Aging. Front Aging Neurosci 2018; 10:52. [PMID: 29551970 PMCID: PMC5840148 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2018.00052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2017] [Accepted: 02/15/2018] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
During aging, human response times (RTs) to unisensory and crossmodal stimuli decrease. However, the elderly benefit more from crossmodal stimulus representations than younger people. The underlying short-latency multisensory integration process is mediated by direct crossmodal connections at the level of primary sensory cortices. We investigate the age-related changes of these connections using a rodent model (Mongolian gerbil), retrograde tracer injections into the primary auditory (A1), somatosensory (S1), and visual cortex (V1), and immunohistochemistry for markers of apoptosis (Caspase-3), axonal plasticity (Growth associated protein 43, GAP 43), and a calcium-binding protein (Parvalbumin, PV). In adult animals, primary sensory cortices receive a substantial number of direct thalamic inputs from nuclei of their matched, but also from nuclei of non-matched sensory modalities. There are also direct intracortical connections among primary sensory cortices and connections with secondary sensory cortices of other modalities. In very old animals, the crossmodal connections strongly decrease in number or vanish entirely. This is likely due to a retraction of the projection neuron axonal branches rather than ongoing programmed cell death. The loss of crossmodal connections is also accompanied by changes in anatomical correlates of inhibition and excitation in the sensory thalamus and cortex. Together, the loss and restructuring of crossmodal connections during aging suggest a shift of multisensory processing from primary cortices towards other sensory brain areas in elderly individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia U Henschke
- Department Systems Physiology of Learning, Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology, Magdeburg, Germany.,Department Genetics, Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology, Magdeburg, Germany.,German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases within the Helmholtz Association, Magdeburg, Germany.,Institute of Cognitive Neurology and Dementia Research (IKND), Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany.,Center for Behavioral Brain Sciences, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Frank W Ohl
- Department Systems Physiology of Learning, Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology, Magdeburg, Germany.,Center for Behavioral Brain Sciences, Magdeburg, Germany.,Institute of Biology, Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Eike Budinger
- Department Systems Physiology of Learning, Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology, Magdeburg, Germany.,Center for Behavioral Brain Sciences, Magdeburg, Germany
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11
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Wenzlow N, Stanley RL, Patterson-Kane JC. B cell lymphoma causing splenomegaly in a Sundevall's jird (Meriones crassus subspecies perpallidus). Vet Rec 2008; 162:455-6. [PMID: 18390857 DOI: 10.1136/vr.162.14.455] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- N Wenzlow
- Department of Pathology and Infectious Diseases, Royal Veterinary College, Hawkshead Lane, Hatfield, Hertfordshire AL9 7TA
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12
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Hara H, Onodera H, Kato H, Kogure K. Effects of aging on signal transmission and transduction systems in the gerbil brain: Morphological and autoradiographic study. Neuroscience 1992; 46:475-88. [PMID: 1347408 DOI: 10.1016/0306-4522(92)90067-c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
The Mongolian gerbil was used as a model of aging because of its relatively short lifespan, genetic homogeneity and the fact that data had been collected previously. Furthermore, gerbils have been widely used in biomedical investigations of stroke and epilepsy. Age-related differences in signal transmission and transduction systems were investigated in brains of three-, 11- and 21-month-old gerbils by morphological and in vitro receptor autoradiographic studies. Morphometric analysis revealed a decreased number of neurons in layer III of the occipital cortex and also a decrease in cerebellar Purkinje cells in 21-month-old animals. However, no statistical differences were observed in the hippocampal formation, the dorsolateral striatum and layer III of the frontal cortex. Autoradiography was used to map muscarinic cholinergic (labeled with [3H]quinuclidinyl benzilate), serotonin2 ([3H]spiperone), dopamine D2 ([3H]spiperone), adenosine A1 ([3H]cyclohexyladenosine), GABAA ([3H]muscimol), naloxone ([3H]naloxone), protein kinase C ([3H]phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate), adenylate cyclase ([3H]forskolin), cyclic AMP ([3H]cyclic AMP) and L-type Ca2+ channels ([3H]PN200-110). Muscarinic cholinergic receptor and protein kinase C, cyclic AMP and L-type Ca2+ channels were significantly decreased in the cerebral cortex and/or in the CA1 subfield of the hippocampus in the 21-month-old group. Muscarinic cholinergic receptor and L-type Ca2+ channel binding sites were significantly reduced in the dentate gyrus. In contrast, protein kinase C was increased in this area in the 21-month-old group. Also, naloxone binding sites were increased in the CA3 subfield, hilus, dentate gyrus and molecular layer of the cerebellum in the 11- and 21-month-old groups. Muscarinic cholinergic, serotonin2 and dopamine D2 receptors and adenylate cyclase were significantly decreased in the striatum. On the other hand, adenosine A1 and GABAA receptors remained unchanged in the 21-month-old group. Although age-related histopathological abnormalities were only observed in the occipital cortex and in the cerebellum, alterations of signal transmission and transduction systems were noticed in all areas examined (e.g. cerebral cortex, CA1 subfield, dentate gyrus and striatum). These data indicate that changes in these receptors and binding sites may be related to dysfunction of learning and memory and to the loss of motor function. The aged gerbil model is a good system for studying aging and is of value for simulating aging after epilepsy and stroke.
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Affiliation(s)
- H Hara
- Department of Neurology, Institute of Brain Diseases, Tohoku University School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
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13
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Abstract
Biology, physiology, husbandry, and commonly occurring diseases of small rodent pets, including the Syrian hamster, Mongolian gerbil, rat, and mouse, are presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- J E Wagner
- Department of Veterinary Pathology, University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine, Columbia
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