Introduction - Syrian Hamster Flashcards
Describe the wild environment of Syrian hamsters.
Originate from Syria, naturally reside in arid, temperate regions of SE Europe and Asia minor. Live in deep tunnels that provide cooler temps and higher humidity. Nocturnal in lab, diurnal females in wild.
Approximately how large are Syrian hamsters?
6-8 inches long, weighs between 110 and 140 grams. Adult female tends to be larger.
How can male Syrians be identified?
Prominent flank glands and large testicles that protrude behind the body on each side of the tail.
Nearly all Syrians now in use in research originate from where? Why were these animals collected?
From one litter captured in Syria in 1930. Saul Adler was looking for a lab animal susceptible to Leishmania infection.
Currently, how does hamster use rank compared to other species?
Behind mice, rats, rabbits, and guinea pigs.
How are Syrian hamsters used in carcinogenesis studies?
Hamster cheek-pouch carcinogenesis model to study oral tumor formation.
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma through administration of nitrosamines or transplantable cell line PGHAM-1, which models metastatic pancreatic cancer
Susceptible to resp tract tumors - Nonsmall cell lung carcinoma through injections of 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-1(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK) w or w/o hyperoxia.
Simian virus 40, a polyomavirus, causes hamsters to develop variety of tumors based on route of inoculation and age of hamster
Study effects of exogenous estrogenic compounds of tumor development
Replication of human adenovirus
What occurs in male Syrian hamsters after the administration of estrogens?
100% develop renal tumors
What is unique regarding hamsters and adenovirus?
One of few animals that permit replication, holding promise as a potential cancer therapeutic.
How can cholesterol cholelithiasis be induced in hamsters?
Excess dietary cholesterol or feeding a sucrose-rich diet.
How can diabetes mellitus be induced in hamsters?
Streptozotocin (STZ) or alloxan, but STZ more effective. Nicotinamide dosed before STZ results in partial protection against beta-cytotoxic effects of STZ, with partial preservation of insulin stores.
High fat diet with moderate cholesterol.
Syrian hamsters of the albino-panda-albino strain develop what condition following STZ?
Diabetes with nephropathy and coronary lesions.
Why are Syrian hamsters useful models for atherosclerosis via dietary manipulation?
Possess similar lipid metabolism
Describe cardiomyopathy in Syrian hamsters.
Naturally occurring, inherited condition that is an established model for DCM and HCM. Both conditions caused by a defect in the sarcoglycan gene, a component of the dystrophin complex.
Hamsters serve as models for what infectious agents?
Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, SARS, fungal infections (Histoplasma), Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Mycobacteria, C. difficile, Treponemia pallidum, Toxoplasma, Babesia, leprosy, atypical tuberculosis, leptospirosis.
Where does Histoplasma grow in the hamster model?
Most in the spleen, ln, and liver.
Describe Leishmania research in Syrian hamsters.
Their susceptibility to this disease was the reason for their initial use as a lab animal. Leishmania infantum causes polymyositis and may be a model for inflammatory myopathy.
Describe prion research in Syrian hamsters.
Historically valuable. Mice now the model of choice. Syrians occasionally used as they are susceptible to scrapie, transmissible mink encephalopathy, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, and Gertmann-Staussler syndrome. These diseases cause slow, progressive, degenerative disease in CNS, hamsters develop amyloid-like deposits in their brains, which may be similar to extracellular deposits of amyloid found in human Alzheimer’s disease.
How can chronic obstructive pulmonary edema and emphysema be induced in hamsters?
Single intratracheal dose of porcine pancreatic elastase or feeding a copper deficient diet.
Describe the zona-free hamster oocyte assay.
Hamster oocyte can be penetrated by human spermatozoa. Assay analyzes ability of sperm to capacitate eggs, undergo acrosome reaction, and fuse with oocyte. Results correlate well with human IVF results, but are labor intensive and difficult to standardize.
