Comp Med No. 4 2010

Question 1

Which are some acceptable non-pharmacological methods of euthanasia for rats and mice?

a. Cervical dislocation
b. Decapitation
c. Microwave irradiation
d. A and B
e. All of the above

Answer 1

e. All of the above

Question 2

How can studies be planned to minimize the effects of anesthetic agents on neuroprotection and neurotoxicity studies?

a. Use sham controls treated with anesthesia but no ischemia
b. Never use anesthesia when designing cerebral edema studies
c. No changes need to be made to take in account anesthesia
d. None of the above

Answer 2

a. Use sham controls treated with anesthesia but no ischemia

Question 3

True or False: Cervical dislocation and microwave irradiation can be used as an acceptable means of euthanasia for all types of animals

Answer 3

False

Question 4

True/False: Protein electrophoresis can quantitate single proteins

Answer 4

False. Groups of proteins may be quantitated by electrophoresis.

Question 5

Short answer: Which conditions can cause a change in acute phase proteins?

Answer 5

Infection, trauma, stress, neoplasia, inflammation

Question 6

Short answer: ELISA quantifies proteins at the ng/mL level, while electrophoresis quantifies at the _____ level

Answer 6

mg/mL

Question 7

How would a single-nucleotide polymorphism in the Chrm2 gene cause functional consequences of the M2 receptor?

Answer 7

Proline is the only amino acid that contains a secondary amino group and forms tertiary peptide bonds. Because of this attribute, substitution of leucine for proline could cause allosteric alterations in proteins, with potential structural or functional consequences. Furthermore, allosteric modulation is a recognized regulatory mechanism of muscarinic receptors.

Question 8

T/F - Polymorphisms in the human Chrm2 gene have been associated with major depression in women in some studies.

Answer 8

True

Question 9

Acoustic startle, acoustic gap detection, and prepulse inhibition (PPI) of startle provide sensitive measures of:

a. Hearing function
b. Sensory gating processes
c. Both hearing function and sensory gating processes

Answer 9

c. Both hearing function and sensory gating processes

Question 10

What is the major muscarinic receptor in the mouse heart?

Answer 10

M2

Question 11

T/F Diabetic WBN/Kob rats spontaneously develop diabetic peripheral motor neuropathy characterized by segmental demyelination and secondary axonal degeneration.

Answer 11

True

Question 12

WBN/Kob rats generally acquire hyperglycemia and glucosuria by what age?

Answer 12

40-45 weeks

Question 13

Mutations in the transmembrane inner ear gene, tmie, are believed to be responsible for the phenotypic changes seen in which two mouse models used to study human deafness?

Answer 13

The circling mouse (cir/cir) & the spinner mouse (sr/sr)

Question 14

Expression of the Tmie gene is thought to have a key role in the maturation and maintenance of which cells?
Stereocilia of the organ of Corti
Retinal ganglion
Vibrissal cells
Vestibular ganglion

Answer 14

Stereocilia of the organ of Corti

Question 15

T or F: Chickens are suboptimal for use in osteonecrosis studies due to significant vascular differences to humans.

Answer 15

F. Chickens can be an excellent model. Although the vascular is different, the bipedal and active nature of the birds makes them an excellent option.

Question 16

T or F: The femoral head of chickens is primarily perfused by two major arteries, the femoralis and iliac arteries.

Answer 16

F. The femoral head of chickens is primarily perfused by the femoralis and ischiatic arteries.

Question 17

T or F: The vascular supply of chicken femoral heads is almost identical to humans.

Answer 17

F. There are significant differences in the vasculature in both species; however this does not prevent the chicken from being a good model for the human disease.

Question 18

T or F. Many studies of osteonecrosis have used nonphysiologic means to induce osteonecrosis in research animals, including drugs such as corticosteroids.

Answer 18

T. This is true.

Question 19

Despite advances in the creation of mouse models for diabetes and metabolic syndrome, only large animal models can provide a way to study _____.

Answer 19

Vascular interventions, like stents, that are human-sized

Question 20

Characteristics of metabolic syndrome include (choose all that apply):

a. Obesity
b. Glucose intolerance
c. Renal failure
d. Alopecia

Answer 20

a. Obesity
and
b. Glucose intolerance

Question 21

What are the disadvantages of using standard-size domestic pigs for animal models of metabolic syndrome or heart disease?

Answer 21

Standard-size pigs are very large (250 kg) and 2 years old before they develop clinical signs of disease. This is too large for most human-size equipment and devices, and they are more difficult to handle.