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PubMed1986

Studies on shrew (Suncus murinus) epidermal growth factor.

The shrew SMG contains a very high level of EGF. By heterologous radioreceptor assay, the EGF content was determined to be about 300 pmol/mg wet weight in the male. The content is sex dependent; in the female gland, it is only 4% of the male gland level. EGF level and EGF receptor content in other tissues showed a reciprocal distribution pattern with the parotid gland containing the second highest level of EGF and the liver containing the largest amount of EGF receptor. Shrew EGF is heat stable. It could induce early eyelid opening and incisor eruption in neonatal rat pups at a very low dose level. There is apparently no high molecular weight form of EGF in shrew tissues and body fluids. However, gel chromatography revealed that the foetus contained multiple forms of EGF. The contribution of a high EGF level to the active life in adult shrews and the exceptionally high growth rate in shrew pups are discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Effect of castration on epididymal sperm storage in male musk shrews (Suncus murinus) and mice (Mus musculus).

Reproductively mature male musk shrews and mice were bilaterally castrated. Epididymal sperm numbers and motility were assessed 0, 2, 4 and 6 weeks after surgery. Seminal vesicle weights and plasma concentrations of total androgens were also measured. In male musk shrews, 30% of the original epididymal sperm numbers were still present 2 weeks after castration and motile spermatozoa were present in 2 of 7 individuals. By 4 and 6 weeks after castration the numbers of spermatozoa remaining declined to about 10% and no sperm motility was noted. Seminal vesicle weights were maintained at about 30% of their original size even up to 6 weeks after castration. In male mice, epididymal sperm numbers, seminal vesicle weights, and androgen levels declined more dramatically after castration. Although androgen concentrations in gonadally intact male musk shrews were approximately 50% of the values in male mice, after castration the concentrations in musk shrews were approximately 2-fold higher than in mice at all times. The results suggest that post-castration retention of epididymal sperm and seminal vesicle weights in the male musk shrew as compared with male mice, is facilitated either by a relatively greater adrenal contribution to circulating androgen levels and/or greater target tissue sensitivity.

Androgens↗
PubMed2000

Association of the developing acrosome with multiple small Golgi units, the Golgi satellites, in spermatids of the musk shrew, Suncus murinus.

The spermatozoa of the musk shrew, Suncus murinus, have a fan-like giant acrosome with a diameter of approximately 20 mm. The aim of this study was to investigate how this giant acrosome is constructed in the musk shrew spermatid and, in particular, how the Golgi apparatus involved in acrosome formation behaves. The behaviour of the Golgi apparatus was monitored by confocal laser scanning microscopy with antibody against a Golgi-associated Rab6 small GTPase. In the early Golgi phase, small Golgi units, the Golgi satellites, localized as a large aggregate in the juxtanuclear cytoplasm. As acrosome formation progressed, the Golgi satellites gradually dispersed, associated with proacrosomal vesicles and an acrosomal vesicle, and finally became distributed as multiple small units over the whole surface of an acrosomal cap in the round spermatid. The mode of acrosome formation in musk shrews was distinctly different from that in rats and mice, in which the Golgi apparatus remains as a single unit throughout acrosome formation. In musk shrews, the proacrosomal vesicles formed successively by the Golgi satellites coalesced, one after another, into a potential acrosomal vesicle. This process may result in further enlargement of the acrosome. The results of the present study indicate that Golgi satellites are necessary for the biogenesis and development of the giant acrosome in musk shrew spermatozoa.

Acrosome↗
PubMed1992

Inheritance and breeding of the waltzing mutant in the musk shrew (Suncus murinus, Insectivora) characterized by the circling and head-shaking behaviors.

A behavioral mutant was found in the laboratory-bred musk shrew (Suncus murinus). The affected shrews were characterized by the behaviors of tight circling in both directions and frequent head shaking in horizontal. They could definitely be identified by at least day 10 after birth. These abnormal behaviors were steady and permanent through life. Mating experiments demonstrated that the mutant character is expressed by a single autosomal recessive gene in homozygote with complete penetrance. The pedigree analysis indicated that the gene was derived from one heterozygous male captured in Ginowan city, Okinawa. The name, waltzing, was proposed for this mutant character with the gene symbol wz. An abnormality of the balance organ was predicted for a cause of the abnormal behaviors, since, besides the circling and head shaking behaviors, the affected shrews could not keep the body stretching but twisted it frequently when they were held up by the tail and further they could not keep the head on the water surface at all. Nevertheless, the affected shrews were almost normal in gestation period, litter size, weaning ratio and body weight in comparison with the phenotypically normal ones. The mutant shrews have been maintained as a closed colony, the WZ line involved more than 30 individuals at every one generation.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Characterization of mycoplasma strains isolated from house musk shrews (Suncus murinus) and their infectivity in mice and rats.

Five mycoplasma strains isolated from house musk shrews (Suncus murinus) in the Central Institute for Experimental Animals were characterized and compared with three murine mycoplasma strains, Mycoplasma pulmonis m 53, M. arthritidis PG6, and M. neurolyticum Type A, and with reference strain G3-5 previously isolated from a house musk shrew. These isolates fermented glucose, but did not hydrolyze urea and arginine, passed through membrane filters of 450 nm pore size, were sensitive to digitonin, and formed minute (115 to 231 microns in diameter) colonies on agar medium. All the five unclassified house musk shrew mycoplasma strains and strain G3-5 used as a reference constituted a homogeneous group based on (i) their antigenic properties (determined using the metabolism inhibition test), (ii) their polypeptide profiles (determined using sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and the Western blotting assay), and (iii) their genomic properties (determined using DNA cleavage pattern analysis), but were quite distinct from the established murine mycoplasmas on the basis of these findings. In a survey of 56 house musk shrews aged 2 to 45 weeks in our colonies, mycoplasmas were isolated from the oral cavities of all animals examined. No gross or microscopic lesions were observed in the five animals from which the mycoplasma strains were isolated. In experimental infection, the mycoplasma was not infective for mice and rats. The results suggest that this group of mycoplasmas is a common inhabitant of house musk shrews.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Metals distribution and interactions in tissues of shrews (Sorex spp.) from copper- and zinc-contaminated areas in Poland.

To assess the risk from heavy metal accumulation to insectivorous species exposed to different pollutants, shrews [Sorex araneus (Linnaeus 1758) and Sorex minutus (Linnaeus 1766)] were collected in the Olkuski Ore Region (OOR; a Zn and Cd smelter area), Legnicko-Głogowski Copper Mine Region (LGCR; a copper ore-mining area), and Białowieza Forest (BF; a control area). A few sites were chosen in each region and a total of 57 animals were collected from them. The liver and kidneys were dissected from the animals, dried, and digested in a 4:1 mixture of HNO3 (nitric acid) and HClO4 (perchloric acid). Cadmium, lead, zinc, copper, and iron were determined in the samples by flame or flameless atomic absorption spectrometry. The interactions between toxic and essential metals were calculated for each tissue. The data showed that accumulation of metals by insectivores is high; shrews accumulated much higher amounts of cadmium and lead than bank voles, studied by other researchers, from the same areas. The expected high tissue accumulation of copper at LGCR and zinc at OOR was not seen, but the levels of both elements were higher in the tissues of shrews from OOR than from LGCR. The lowest copper concentrations were in the tissues of shrews from BF. The highest cadmium and lead concentrations were found in the tissues of shrews from OOR. Some significant correlations were found between the tissue concentrations of xenobiotic and essential metals (e.g., between cadmium and zinc and between lead and iron).

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed1993

[Innervation of the external ear in humans and the musk shrew].

The external ear appears only in mammals and possesses a great diversity of forms. In addition, multiple nerves are distributed in the external ear. The nerves which are distributed in the external ear were investigated in humans and in the musk shrew (Suncus murinus) in a macroscopic study. The following results were obtained. Cranial nerves (CN) V, VII, X and cervical nerves supply the auricle and the external meatus in both humans and the musk shrew. Branches of the third division of CN V supply an anterior part of the external meatus and the anterior part of the auricle in both humans and the musk shrew. A branch of CN X, together with a branch of CN VII, supply the posterior parts of the external meatus in humans. In the musk shrew, a branch of CN X, together with a branch of CN VII, supplies the posterior part of the external meatus and the central part and the anterior portion of the auricle. Branches of the cervical nerve supply the posterior part of the auricle. Branches of the cervical nerve supply the posterior part of the external meatus and the central and posterior parts of the auricle in the musk shrew.

Aged↗
PubMed1991

Psychophysical measurement of spectral sensitivity and color vision in red-light-reared tree shrews (Tupaia belangeri).

The role of the spectral lighting environment on the post-natal development of spectral sensitivity and color vision was studied in tree shrews (Tupaia belangeri) that were born and reared to adulthood in cyclic red light. Normal tree shrews are dichromats, possessing short-wavelength-sensitive (SWS) and long-wavelength-sensitive (LWS) cone receptors and a small population of rods. Red-light-rearing (RLR) produced differential stimulation of the cone types by effectively eliminating photic stimulation of the SWS cones, without depriving the LWS cones. Spectral sensitivity and color vision were measured behaviorally for RLR shrews and normal shrews under different ambient light levels. Spectral sensitivity functions were deutan-like, exhibiting maxima at ca 450 and 550 nm and a minimum at 510 nm. No significant differences in spectral sensitivity were observed between RLR and control animals. Furthermore, all animals demonstrated deutan-type dichromatic color vision evidenced by their ability to discriminate monochromatic lights from equally-bright achromatic lights except for a "neutral point" near 505 nm. These results demonstrate that a population of functional SWS cones survived the lack of post-natal photic stimulation. However, RLR shrews differed from controls in that they were poorer at making chromatic/achromatic discriminations. While no severe disorganization of color vision was evident, the poorer discrimination displayed by the RLR animals is likely the result of changes in post-receptoral visual mechanisms.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Reduction of aflatoxin B(1) adduct biomarkers by oltipraz in the tree shrew (Tupaia belangeri chinensis).

The risk of liver cancer is greatest in people both infected with hepatitis B virus (HBV) and highly exposed to aflatoxin B(1) (AFB(1)). The tree shrew (Tupaia belangeri chinensis) is a unique species that can be infected with human HBV, is susceptible to AFB(1)-induced liver cancer, and shows a synergistic interaction between HBV and AFB(1) for liver cancer. In this regard, the tree shrew may be useful for evaluating experimental chemoprevention strategies relevant to high-risk human populations as it mirrors the human epidemiology of liver cancer. To begin developing the model for chemoprevention study, two groups of tree shrews were fed 400 microg AFB(1)/kg b.wt. in milk daily for 4 weeks. One week prior to AFB(1) administration, one group also received oltipraz (0.5 mmol/kg, p.o.) daily for 5 weeks. At weekly intervals, 1 ml of blood and a 24-h urine sample were obtained from each animal. Aflatoxin-albumin adducts in serum were determined by a radioimmunological assay and aflatoxin-N(7)-guanine adducts in urine were measured by HPLC. Aflatoxin-albumin adducts increased rapidly in 2 weeks to plateau at 20 pmol/mg protein, and they diminished after cessation of AFB(1) exposure. Oltipraz significantly attenuated the overall burden of aflatoxin-albumin adducts throughout the exposure period with a median reduction of 80%. In a single cross-sectional analysis at the end of AFB(1) dosing, oltipraz treatment decreased urinary aflatoxin-N(7)-guanine by 93%. Collectively, these results indicate that oltipraz reduces AFB(1) risk biomarkers in the tree shrew in a manner similar to that observed in rodents and humans, and establishes a rationale to evaluate cancer chemoprevention by oltipraz in human HBV-infected, AFB(1) exposed tree shrews.

Aflatoxin B1↗
PubMed2003

Protection of tree shrews by pVAX-PS DNA vaccine against HBV infection.

The immunological protection of pVAX-PS, a DNA vaccine, was assessed in the tree shrews model. pVAX-PS was constructed by inserting the gene encoding the middle (pre-S2 plus S) envelope protein of HBV into a plasmid vector pVAX1. Tree shrews (Tupaia belangeri chinenesis) were experimentally infected with human HBV by inoculation with human serum positive for HBV markers. DNA vaccination-induced seroconversion and antibody to HBV surface antigen (anti-HBs) were analyzed by ELISA, and protective effects elicited by pVAX-PS vaccination against subsequent HBV challenge were evaluated by detection of HBV seromarkers and observation of hepatic lesions in HBV-infected tree shrews. The results shown that anti-HBs were detectable in serum at week 2 after pVAX-PS vaccination and peaked at week 4, and immunization with pVAX-PS decreased the positive conversion rate of HBV seromarkers and relieved hepatic lesions in tree shrews challenged with HBV. These results indicated that pVAX-PS immunization could induce remarkable humoral immune response and prevent the experimental tree shrews from infection of HBV.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Opioidergic innervation of the tree shrew pineal gland: an immunohistochemical study.

The tree shrew (Tupaia glis) has been described as a missing link relating primate to insectivore stock. The pineal gland of the tree shrew consists of a superficial pineal and a deep pineal, which are connected by a long and slender pineal stalk. A monoclonal antibody against leu-enkephalin was used in an immunohistochemical investigation of the tree shrew pineal gland. A moderate innervation of leu-enkephalin immunoreactive nerve fibers has been demonstrated in both superficial and deep pineal gland of the tree shrew. The density of the nerve fibers was slightly higher in the superficial pineal than that of the deep one. The number of immunoreactive nerve fibers were observed in the capsule of the pineal gland from where they entered the pineal parenchyma. Only a few immunoreactive fibers were found in the habenular area and the area rostral to the pineal recess, connecting the habenula and the deep pineal. Furthermore, some positive fibers were located in the pineal stalk. There was no evidence of leu-enkephalin immunoreactive intrapineal cells as seen in the other species of mammal. Therefore, the interspecies variation of opioidergic innervation among the mammals may exist. The lack of intrapineal perikarya is interpreted to indicate that the sources of leu-enkephalin nerve fibers were outside the gland. The anatomical location of the leu-enkephalin immunoreactive nerve fibers in the tree shrew pineal gland supports to both central and peripheral pinealopetal pathways in this species.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Alteration of the p53 gene during tree shrews' hepatocarcinogenesis.

OBJECTIVE: To detect the expression and variation of the p53 gene in hepatocarcinogenesis of tree shrews induced by hepatitis B virus (HBV) and aflatoxin B1 (AFB1). METHODS: Tree shrews were divided into four groups: group A, infected with HBV and fed with AFB1; group B, only infected with HBV; group C, fed with AFB1 alone; and group D normal control. The tree shrews underwent liver biopsy every 15 weeks. Liver and tumor tissues were detected by immunohistochemistry and molecular biotechnologies. RESULTS: The incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) was higher in group A (66.7%) than in groups B (0) and C (30%). HCC occurrence was earlier in group A than in group C (120.0+/-16.6 wk vs 153.3+/-5.8 wk, t=3.336, P<0.01). Mutated p53 protein was not found in all groups before 75 weeks of experiment. At the 105th week, the expression rates of mutated p53 protein were 78.6%, 60.0% and 71.4% in groups A, B and C respectively, which were significantly higher than that in group D (10%) (chi2> or =5.03, P<0.05). An abnormal band of the p53 gene was detected in groups A and C. The mutational points of the p53 gene in liver cancer of tree shrews were at codon 275, 78 and 13. Nucleotide sequence and amino acids sequence of tree shrew's wild-type p53 were 91.7% and 93.4% in homology compared with those of human p53, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Remarkable synergistic effect on HCC exists between HBV and AFB1. Mutated p53 protein expressed before occurrence of HCC promotes the development of HCC. HBV and AFB1 may synergistically induce p53 gene mutation.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

An attempt at reciprocal crosses between laboratory strains of large and small musk shrews (Suncus murinus)--influence of body-weight difference between sexes on mating success.

We conducted mating experiments between two laboratory strains of musk shrews (Suncus murinus), the large-sized shrews (BAN strain) originating from Bangladesh and the small-sized animals (NAG strain) from Nagasaki, Japan. In the 16 mating trials between 12 BAN females (mean body weight of 87.9 g) and 11 NAG males (52.3 g), highly aggressive fighting behaviors of the BAN females toward the NAG males were observed. The BAN females stayed in nest boxes in cages, whereas the NAG males kept out during the mating trials. No pregnant females were found in the trials. Their pregnancies were diagnosed by palpation on the day about 16 days after the separation of the pairs. Contrastively, in 6 of the 11 trials between 8 NAG females (34.2 g) and 6 BAN males (145.9 g), the viable and fertile F1 hybrids of 8 females and 8 males were produced. The F1, subsequent F2 and backcross progenies appeared neither external nor behavioral abnormalities. Various types of crosses using the F1, F2, and the two parental shrews showed that mating success was in a condition that females were nearly as heavy as males, or lighter. Although body weights of musk shrews from different geographical areas were reported to vary from 43.5 to 147.3 g in males and from 26.0 to 82.0 g in females, males in respective localities were constantly about 1.7 times heavier than the corresponding females. These results therefore suggest that body-weight differences between sexes paired greatly affect mating success in the cross between the strains of induced ovulatory shrews.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

Adenoviral infection in infant tree shrews.

An epizootic of fatal illness among infant common tree shrews (Tupaia glis) occurred in a research colony. Affected tree shrews were dehydrated, and ingested milk substitute remained in their stomachs for several hours without being digested. Twelve of 15 tree shrews born during a 3-month period died. The 4 tree shrews we were able to examine had intranuclear inclusions in the epithelium of the stomach and intestines, with mild to moderate multifocal necrosis. One tree shrew also had nasal epithelial inclusions and multiple foci of hepatocellular and biliary necrosis, with inclusions. The causative virus was identified as an adenovirus.

Adenoviridae↗
PubMed1998

Biogeography of Sulawesian shrews: testing for their origin with a parametric bootstrap on molecular data.

In order to identify the zoogeographic origin of shrews (genus Crocidura) living on the oceanic island of Sulawesi, 15 taxa from Southeast Asia and 1 from Europe were examined for sequence variation in a segment (617 bp) of the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene. The null hypothesis of a monophyletic origin of all Sulawesian shrews was investigated by a phylogenetic reconstruction using maximum parsimony. According to a parametric bootstrap which simulated sequence evolution for these taxa, the null hypothesis could be rejected as highly unlikely (P < 0.01). Therefore, the molecular phylogeny strongly suggests that overwater colonization of Sulawesi by shrews succeeded on at least two occasions. The first, relatively ancient wave of colonizers radiated and gave rise to a surprizingly diverse assemblage of at least five species which now coexist in perfect sympatry on Sulawesi. The second wave, of more recent origin, gave rise to Crocidura nigripes, a species which retained close genetic affinities with other Malay shrews.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Paradoxical social effects on response to cold during ontogeny of the common white-toothed shrew, Crocidura russula.

Postnatal development of thermoregulatory responses to cold differs between shrews measured singly or in groups as a litter. Single shrews increase their metabolic response to cold within 14 days to maintain normothermia. Shrews measured in groups show little or no metabolic response to cold and do not reach normothermia before the 19th day. Lower body temperatures in groups are explained by torpor, which obviously needs the prerequisite of forming a group. Oxygen consumption of the singly measured shrews depends upon body mass.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Effect of ethanol on esophageal cell proliferation and the development of N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine induced-esophageal carcinoma in shrews.

The effect of ethanol (EtOH) on esophageal cell proliferation and the development of esophageal cancers induced by N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG) in shrews were investigated. Sequential histological examination was done, and cell proliferation was assessed by BrdU labeling. At 5 weeks of age, animals were given tap water, 2% EtOH, 50 ppm MNNG, or 50 ppm MNNG plus 2%, 5% or 10% EtOH in the drinking water. Administration of 10% and 5% EtOH simultaneously with MNNG caused death in 40% (10/25) within 4 days and in 20% (6/30) within 7 days respectively, whereas other treatment were well tolerated with no sudden deaths. Administration of 2% EtOH for 30 weeks caused a 2-fold increase, and that of MNNG caused a 4.5-fold increase in the proliferation index of the basal cells of the esophagus compared with control shrews, and MNNG plus 2% EtOH caused a 5.5-fold increase. In MNNG-treated shrews, with or without 2% EtOH administration, sequential histological examination of esophageal tissue revealed a similar change; dysplasia appeared at 30 weeks of age, squamous cell carcinoma occurred at 35 weeks of age, and the depth of invasion extended to adventitia at 45 weeks of age. These finding indicate that treatment with 2% EtOH promoted the proliferation of esophageal basal cells but did not alter the tumor induction period and did not have tumor-promoting activity. EtOH per se was not carcinogenic; no tumors were seen in shrews not administered MNNG.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

The role of D2 and D3 dopamine receptors in the mediation of emesis in Cryptotis parva (the least shrew).

This study introduces Cryptotis parva (the least shrew) as a new dopaminergic animal model of emesis. The potential emetogenic effects of a nonselective dopamine agonist [apomorphine], two D1 agonists [SKF-38393 and SKF-82958], a D2 preferring agonist [quinpirole], and two D3-preferring agonists [7-(OH) DPAT and PD 128, 907] were investigated. Intraperitoneal administration of D1 agonists failed to induce emesis. However, other agonists caused a dose-dependent increase in the percentage of animals vomiting as well as potentiating the mean frequency of emesis with the following ED50, potency order: 7-(OH) DPAT < apomorphine < quinpirole < PD 128, 907. For antagonist studies a 2 mg/kg dose of these agonists were used to induce emesis. Thus, the inhibitory dose-response effects of a D2-preferring [sulpride], a D3-preferring [U 99194A] and combination of varying doses of these antagonists [sulpride + U 99194A] were evaluated on the ability of the cited agonists to produce vomiting. Sulpride decreased the number of shrews vomiting and the mean vomiting frequency produced by the cited agonists in a dose-dependent fashion with the following ID50 order [apomorphine < PD 128, 907 < 7-(OH) DPAT < quinpirole]. By itself, U 99194A failed to significantly alter the emesis produced by any of the cited agonists, however, it potentiated (3-8 times) the antiemetic effects of sulpride both in reducing the number of shrews vomiting as well as decreasing the mean vomiting frequency with the following ID50 order: PD 128, 907 < 7-(OH) DPAT < quinpirole. However, U 99194A attenuated the potent antiemetic effect of sulpride on the apomorphine-induced emesis. The results suggest that the tested agonists primarily activate dopamine D2 receptors to induce emesis in the least shrew whereas activation of D3 sites potentiate the vomiting action of D2 dopamine receptors.

Analysis of Variance↗