Serum constituents and liver photomicrographs of wild Suncus murinus in the south of Taiwan.
Serum constituents and liver of the wild male suncus as well as of those bred and fed in our laboratory were examined serologically and histologically. The following results were obtained: The serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase, gamma-glutamyl transaminase, inorganic phosphate, blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, uric acid, and zinc turbidity test levels of wild suncus were higher than those of 4 and 8 week old fed suncus. The total cholesterol level of wild suncus was lower than those of 4 and 8 week old fed suncus. In wild suncus, the total bilirubin and direct bilirubin levels were higher, and the Ca and albumin levels were lower than those of 4 week old fed suncus. However, no significant differences were observed between the wild and the 8 week old fed suncus. Although the alkaline phosphatese and thymol turbidity test levels of wild suncus were larger than those of 8 week old fed suncus, no significant differences were observed between the wild and the 4 week old fed suncus. The histological study revealed the presence of fatty droplets in only 2 of the 67 wild suncus examined while fatty droplets (grade +) were observed in almost all the fed suncus. In one case of the wild suncus, moderate round cell infiltration in interlobular connective tissue was found.