Other Research Use Flashcards
Why is the cat used to study spinal cord injury?
Spinal cord is similar in length and anatomy to humans
Describe the feline spinal cord injury model.
Cats taught to walk on treadmill (takes 3-4 weeks). Implant electrodes in the brain and muscles of the rear legs. Create a spinal lesion, typically of the last thoracic segment. Cats able to regain normal locomotor pattern with training, electrical stimulation, and pharmacologic agents.
What recent advances have been made with the feline spinal cord injury model?
Grafting of peripheral nerves onto the spinal cord
Where has research on spinal cord injury models shifted?
To mice and rats.
What area of sleep research are cats used to model? Why?
Obstructive sleep apnea
Natural disposition to spend 2/3 of day sleeping
How does the cat model of obstructive sleep apnea work?
Cats are habituated to sleep in a hammock in one of four positions while wearing CPAP machines. OSA occurred in the supine position with neck flexion. CPAP treatment resulted in fewer arousals, reduced number of sleep shifts, and increased REM sleep.
What neurologic disease are cats used to model? How does this tie into sleep research?
Parkinson’s disease. Induced with MPTP. Cats can recover.
Acute phase with disruptions in sleep pattern similar to humans.
Persian cats can be affected by what genetic condition? What physical differences are appreciated in these cats?
Chediak-Higashi. Seen in blue smoke Persians with dilute coloring and pale yellow eyes.
The appearance of this cat is consistent with what condition?
Waardenburg syndrome. Associated with deafness, white fur, and blue eyes/heterochromia.
Why are cats valuable as models of human-directed preclinical gene therapy trials?
Large size, outbred genetic diversity, and longevity
What are the two centers for cat models of human disease/genetic models?
UPenn - Center for Comparative Medical Genetics
UC Davis - Cat Phenotype and Health Information Registry
