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Mouse > Biology > Flashcards

Biology Flashcards

1
Q

How do mice respond to cold exposure? Can they tolerate nocturnal cooling?

A

Nonshivering thermogenesis. Cannot tolerate nocturnal cooling.

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2
Q

What heat adaptions do mice lack?

A

Cannot sweat, pant, and have limited ability to salivate.

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3
Q

What is the thermoneutral zone of mice? At what temperature do they begin to die?

A

29.6 - 30.5 C (85-87 F) thermoneutral zone. Die at temperatures greater than 37 C (98.6 F)

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4
Q

Describe mouse lung anatomy.

A

Single left lung, four lobes of right lung consisting of superior, middle, inferior, and post caval.

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5
Q

Which sex of inbred mice has heavier kidneys?

A

Male

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6
Q

Describe the filtering capacity of mice compared to rats.

A

Mice have small glomeruli, but 4.8x that present in rats, with twice the filtering surface/gram of kidney tissue.

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7
Q

Why, functionally, is mouse urine so concentrated?

A

Long loops of Henle and giant vascular bundles (vasa recta) associated with loops in the medulla.

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8
Q

What compound is present in large amount in mouse urine? Which products are present (2), absent (1), and what is the ratio of uric acid to allantoin?

A

Protein. Taurine and creatinine are present, tryptophan is absent, and more allantoin is present than uric acid.

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9
Q

Describe the submandibular gland in the mouse.

A

Seromucuscular gland, not mixed as in other species.

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10
Q

What tissue lines the esophagus?

A

Thick, cornified squamous epithelium

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11
Q

Characterize the cranial portion of the stomach.

A

Keratinized

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12
Q

What is Schaedler’s flora? What agents are not included? Why is this problematic?

A

Mixture of aerobic and less oxygen-sensitive anaerobes used to colonize mouse G.I. Does not include extremely oxygen-sensitive fusiform bacteria, which make up the majority of normal rodent microflora.

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13
Q

What is the composition of altered Schaedler flora? Which group created it?

A

8 bacteria = 4 original, 1 spiral, 3 fusiform extremely oxygen sensitive fusiform bacteria.
Created by NIH

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14
Q

What components make up the lymphatic system? (6)

A
  1. Lymph vessels
  2. Lymph nodes
  3. Thymus
  4. Spleen
  5. Solitary peripheral nodes
  6. Intestinal Peyer’s patches
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15
Q

What structures make up a lymph node? What is contained in each section?

A

Cortex and medulla. Cortex contains primary follicles which contain B lymphocytes and diffuse cortex which contains T lymphocytes.

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16
Q

Which tonsils do mice lack?

A

Palatine and pharyngeal

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17
Q

Where is the white pulp of the spleen found? What cell types does it contain?

A

White pulp along central arteriole and contains T- and B-cell zones. Periarteriolar sheath contains CD4 and CD8 T cells. Periphery has lymph follicles with germinal centers.

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18
Q

What does the red pulp of the spleen contain?

A

Sinusoids and hemoreticular tissue.

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19
Q

When is the thymus at maximum size? When does it regress?

A

Maximum size at sexual maturity (4-7 weeks). Involutes between 35 and 80 days.

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20
Q

Is the function of the thymus complete at birth? What occurs following thymectomy in newborn mice? Adult mice?

A

Function of thymus not complete at birth. Thymectomy in newborn mice leads to decrease in circulating lymphocytes and impairment of cellular immune responses. Thymectomy in adults leads to no immediate effect, but progressive effects as seen in neonates.

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21
Q

What does MALT stand for? What tissues does it comprise? How does it’s productive capacity compare to the spleen and lymph nodes?

A

Mucosal associated lymphoid tissue. All peripheral lymphoid tissue connected to external cavities. MALT contains more lymphoid cells and produces more immunoglobulin that spleen and lymph nodes.

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22
Q

Are body temperature and blood pressure linked in the mouse?

A

No.

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23
Q

What is the vertebrae formulae for mice? In which sections are variation most likely to exist?

A

C7 T13 L6 S4 C28
Thoracic and lumbar

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24
Q

What is the dental formula of mice? In which direction do teeth erupt? Which tooth is smallest and most likely to be missing?

A

I1 M3
Erupt front to back. 3rd molar the smallest tooth and most likely to be missing.

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25
Q

What is the function of the clitoral glands?

A

Secrete sebaceous substance through the ducts entering the lateral walls of the clitoral fossa

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26
Q

How many mammary glands do mice have? Where are they located?

A

5, 3 cervicothoracic, 2 inguinoabdominal

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27
Q

List the accessory sex glands of male mice (5)

A

Ampulla, seminal vesicles, prostate (anterior, ventral, and dorsal), bulbourethral, and preputial gland

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28
Q

Vertebral formula of mice and rats.

A

7C.13T.6L.4S.28C (mice) or 27-31C (rats)

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29
Q

Describe the rat clavicle.

A

Well-formed clavicular brace with shoulder anatomy comparable to humans

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30
Q

Describe rat bone maturation.

A

Slower than most mammals. Ossification not complete >1 year of age and growth plates do not fuse.

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31
Q

Describe growth plate fusion in mice.

A

Variable and incomplete, depending on strain/genotype

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32
Q

Describe the haversian system.

A

Mice, rats, and hamsters do not have.

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33
Q

Do rodents have deciduous teeth? Describe their incisors.

A

No deciduous teeth.
Open-rooted incisors with iron deposition beneath enamel layer on rostral surface of incisors.

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34
Q

Do rodents have tonsils?

A

No, have nasal-associated lymphoid tissue.

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35
Q

Describe each salivary gland in the mouse and rat. Why is this important?

A

Parotid: Serous, drains opposite lower molars. More diffuse than other glands.
Submaxillary: Mixed, seromucus. Drains posterior to lower incisors.
Sublingual: Mucus. Drains near submaxillary.
Sendai virus infects only serous glands.

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36
Q

Describe the sexual dimorphism of the salivary glands.

A

Males have more prominent secretory granules in the submaxillary gland. Males also have larger submaxillary and parotid glands.

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37
Q

Describe the esophagus.

A

Entire esophagus is composed of striated muscle. Epithelium is keratinized/cornified.

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38
Q

Describe gastric juice secretion in rats and mice.

A

Constantly secreted, not dependent on food intake. Rate slower in mice than rats, takes longer to induce gastric ulcers in mice.

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39
Q

What is one component of the stomach that limits vomiting in the rat?

A

Esophagus enters the lesser curvature through a fold in the limiting ridge so rats can’t vomit.

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40
Q

Describe Paneth cell granules.

A

Found in small intestinal crypts. Large in mice and humans, small in rats.

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41
Q

Describe the cecum in rats.

A

Rats have no internal septae (unlike most other rodents). Have an inner constriction that divides the cecum into apical and basilar sections. Apical section contains lymphatic tissue, analogous to the vermiform appendix of man.

42
Q

Thickened bowel walls are normal in what sex of rodent? When?

A

Pregnant and lactating females due to physiological mucosal hyperplasia.

43
Q

Describe the mouse and rat liver.

A

Mouse: Left, right, median, and caudate lobes with gallbladder in cleft of median lobe.
Rats: Left, right lateral, median (cystic), and caudate. No gall bladder. Bile ducts from each lobe come together to form common bile duct, which drains into descending duodenum. No ability to concentrate or store bile.

44
Q

Describe hepatocyte appearance.

A

Anisokaryosis, polykarya, and karyomegaly present in all ages, but increase with age and disease in mice. Hepatocytes more uniform in rats. Extra-medullarly hematopoiesis common, especially in young mice. Fat vacuoles common.

45
Q

Describe the pancreas in the mice and rat.

A

More diffuse

46
Q

Where do pancreatic ducts open in the mice and rat?

A

Mouse: Pancreatic duct drains into duodenum at greater duodenal papilla
Rat: Pancreatic ducts open into lower part of the common bile duct

47
Q

How are Islets of Langerhans distributed in the pancreas? How do they change during pregnancy?

A

Scattered irregularly throughout. During pregnancy, islet cell number increase and/or new islets are formed.

48
Q

What is the largest nasal gland in the rat? Describe its function, location, and homologue.

A

Steno’s gland = Lateral nasal gland.
Regulates viscosity of mucus and humidifies inspired air. High metabolic capacity.
Surrounds maxillary sinuses and extends into lateral walls. Ducts empty into nasal vestibule.
Homologous to salt gland in marine bird.

49
Q

How is Steno’s gland regulated? What does this allow?

A

Regulated by nervous system. Rapid adjustments of secretory activity to changes in humidity of inspired air or airborne irritants.

50
Q

What are the two divisions of the olfactory system?

A

Main system - Nasal cavity olfactory system
Accessory - Vomeronasal organ. Receptors for pheromones, prominent in rodents

51
Q

Describe the structure of the lungs. Where is cartilage present?

A

One left lobe, four lobes on right. Cartilage only present in extrapulmonary airways.

52
Q

What is the branching pattern of the resp tract in mice and rats?

A

Monopodial, as compared to dichotomous in humans. Monopodial means that branches form one smaller daughter segment that extends at an angle from the parent branch.

53
Q

What is a unique feature of the rat rep epithelium? How does this impact disease?

A

Serous cells in resp epithelium. Means Sendai virus can also be found in the trachea.

54
Q

Describe the epithelial lining of the bronchioles in rats.

A

Remains high cuboidal on side adjacent to arteriole and opposite side progressively decreases in height.

55
Q

Describe submucosal/bronchial glands in the mouse.

A

Absent or rare.

56
Q

What is unique regarding the lungs of mice and rats at birth?

A

Immature with no alveoli or alveolar ducts. Restructuring and development occurs post-natally, with gas exchange occurring in smooth-walled channels and alveolar sacs.

57
Q

What does the pulmonary vein contain? What should it not be confused with?

A

Contains cardiac muscle. Don’t confuse with medial hypertrophy.

58
Q

What is present in the bronchial and pulmonary arteries in the hilar region of the rat? This is also found in what other species?

A

Precapillary anastomoses between bronchial and pulmonary arteries. Also seen in man, GPs, and opossums.

59
Q

In rats, how is bronchoconstriction of the bronchioles controlled?

A

Controlled by vagal tone, as there is no adrenergic supply. Also found in rabbits.

60
Q

Cardiac puncture can be performed on what side and between what ribs?

A

Left side, due to small size of left lung, between ribs 3-5.

61
Q

Describe the cardiac valves in the rat and mouse.

A

Mouse: Aortic and pulmonary are semilunar. Right AV is tricuspid, left AV is bicuspid.
Rat: Aortic and pulmonary have three leaflets. Mitral and tricuspid valves have two major and one minor accessory leaflets.

62
Q

Describe the vena cava in mice and rats.

A

Two precavae (supervior vena cava), the right and left. Right drains directly into right atrium. Left joins azygous before uniting with postcava to enter right atrium. According to BB, both precavae join with posterior vena cava.

63
Q

Describe the rat myocardial blood supply.

A

Extracoronary myocardial blood supply. Atria receive blood from internal mammary artery and subclavian. More similar to fish than higher mammals. Right cardiac arteries provide large blood supply to right and left atria, but left cardiac arteries supply only a little of what the left atrium needs.

64
Q

What is the appearance of the AV node in Muridae? What species is this similar to?

A

Elongated slender mass separated from the annulus fibrosus by several layers of fat. Similar to rabbit and dog.

65
Q

Describe the Purkinje fibers in Muridae? This is similar to what other species?

A

Little to no differentiation between Purkinje fibers and ventricular musculature. Also in rabbit, GP, and bat.

66
Q

Describe the EKG pattern in Muroidea superfamily. How does this change with age?

A

Very short Q-T with nearly no S-T segment. Neonatal mice have long Q-T interval which takes adult form by 4 weeks of age.

67
Q

What species have large fiber, well-differentiated Purkinje fibers?

A

Pigs, ungulates, and birds

68
Q

What species have medium to small Purkinje fibers that resemble myocardial fibers?

A

Primates, dogs, cats, and squirrels.

69
Q

What species have unipapillate kidneys?

A

Rodents, lagomorphs, and insectivores.

70
Q

What sexual dimorphism exists in mouse kidneys? (2)

A

Males have larger and heavier kidneys.
Parietal glomerular lining is cuboidal in adult intact males, squamous in females, young, and castrated males.

71
Q

Describe the concentrating ability of rodent kidneys.

A

Can highly concentrate urine to a USG of 1.050 to 1.062

72
Q

Describe rat nephrons.

A

Have superficial nephrons in the kidney cortex that allow for research directed at the transport process along the nephron.

73
Q

Describe the seminal vesicles.

A

Large. Ducts enter urethra with ampulla of ductus deferens. Fluids help form vaginal plug.

74
Q

Describe the coagulating glands.

A

Attached to the concave surface of the seminal vesicles. Fluids help form the vaginal plug.

75
Q

Describe the prostate.

A

Includes pars ventralis and distalis.
Ventral - Ventrolateral sides of bladder. Several ducts open into ventral wall of urethra.
Third pair - Doral to urethra. Many ducts open into lateral aspects of urethra.

76
Q

Describe the ampullary glands.

A

Also known as the gland of the ductus deferens. Opens directly into the vestibule of the ampulla.

77
Q

Describe the bulbourethral glands.

A

AKA Cowper’s glands. Lateral to membranous urethra. Enters urethra anterior to diverticulum

78
Q

Describe the preputial glands.

A

In SQ tissue near end of penis. Ducts open at tip of prepuce. Produce sebaceous excretions. May be homologous with clitoral glands of female.

79
Q

Are waxy urethral plugs due to coagulated seminal vesicle secretions prone to pathology? How is the size and frequency of expulsion of these plugs impacted by cage composition?

A

No, but may affect urine outflow. Can occur agonally. Higher in single sex grouped males.

80
Q

In rats, what occurs to the mean oocyte count postnatally?

A

Drops from 160k to 23k from two days before birth to postnatal day 11. Attributed to atresia and transformation to follicle cells.

81
Q

Where does the urethra open in the female rodent?

A

Opens to exterior at urethral orifice. Does not enter the vagina as in domestic animals.

82
Q

What is present at the vagina at birth? When does this degenerate?

A

Sealed caudally by a transverse epithelial septum. Degeneration begins at 20-35 days, resulting in continuous lumen by 40-80 days.

83
Q

Describe the tubuloalveolar glands.

A

Located in cranial part of urethral wall. Homologous to male prostate. Best developed at 30 days of age, then undergo degeneration to resemble the prostate of a castrated male.

84
Q

How many mammae do mice and rats have?

A

Mice: 5 pairs (3 thoracic, 2 inguinal)
Rats: 6 pairs (3 thoracic, 1 abdominal, 2 inguinal)

85
Q

What is the TMZ of mice and rats?

A

Mice: 29-31C (84-88F)
Rats: 28 - 30C (82-86F)

86
Q

How do rodents adapt to heat?

A

No sweat glands and cannot pant. Lose some heat by salivary secretions. Primarily respond by behavior - Burrowing, seeking shade.

87
Q

How do rodents adapt to cold?

A

Chronic exposure replaces shivering with non-shivering thermogenesis. Brown fat is controlled by thyroid hormones and catecholamines. Total heat generated can almost triple BMR.

88
Q

Where is white fat found?

A

New cells can develop anywhere in body. Constant deposits along mesenteric vessels, kidneys, attached to gonads and ducts, and SC axillary and inguinal areas.

89
Q

Describe brown fat. Where is it found?

A

No new areas postnatally. Non-shivering thermogenesis. Between scapulae, axillary, cervical, adjacent to thymus, along thoracic aorta, kidney hilus, along urethra. Has histological appearance due to presence of mitochondria.

90
Q

Describe the harderian glands.

A

Behind eye. Single duct opens at base of nictitating membrane. Lubricates edges of eyelids with porphyrin. Neoplasia not uncommon.

91
Q

How many lacrimal glands do rodents have?

A

Two: Extraorbital and infraorbital. Extraorbital glands in rats have striking epithelial megalokarya, not to be confused with a disease state.

92
Q

Where is Zymbal’s gland located?

A

Base of ear in rats. Neoplasia not uncommon.

93
Q

What sexual dimorphism exists in blood granulocytes?

A

Males have more peripheral blood granulocytes.

94
Q

What are two unique characteristics of the splenic red pulp?

A

Active hematopoietic site throughout life.
Iron (hemosiderin) pigment accumulates as mice age, especially in multiparous females.

95
Q

Where does melanosis occur?

A

Spleen and spleen capsule, heart valves, olfactory bulbs, and optic nerves.

96
Q

Are accessory adrenals common?

A

Yes

97
Q

How are the zona reticularis and fasciculate discernable?

A

Not discernable

98
Q

Describe the appearance of the X zone with age. Describe sexual dimorphism associated with involution.

A

Disappears with age. Occurs when males reach sexual maturity, in first pregnancy in females, and gradually in virgin females. Marked vacuolization during involution in females but not males.

99
Q

What is the X zone of the adrenals?

A

Portion of the cortex which surrounds the medulla. Composed of basophilic cells and appears around 10 days of age.

100
Q

How do the adrenals of domestic and wild rats compare?

A

Smaller in domestic rats.

101
Q

How does adrenal size differ between males and females?

A

Adrenals of females larger.

Mouse (17 decks)

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