Rat quiz Flashcards
Majority of lab rats are what species?
Brown rat or Norway Rat
aka: Rattus norvegicus
How many chromasomes does the brown rat have?
42
All rodents have a single pair of _____ on each jaw
Incisors
___% of the rat consists of its’ tail
85%
What are two uses of a rat’s tail?
Balance and heat abatement
Where are a rat’s sweatglands found?
Hairless foot pads
How many digits are on the front and hind limbs?
4 on front, 5 on back
What is the anatomical feature responsible for red eyes in the rat?
Harderian gland (lacrimal gland containing prophyrin)
What is chromodacryorrhea?
Increase in red tears caused by stress or disease
What is the average life span for a rat?
26-40 months
What is the average weight for a male rat?
267-500g
What is the average weight for a female rat?
225-325g
What is the normal HR for a rat?
313-493 bpm
What is the normal RR for a rate?
71-146 bpm
What is the normal temperature for a rat?
96.6-99.5
What is the daily feed consumption for a rat?
15-20 g
What is the daily water consumption for a rat?
22-33ml
What is the recommended evironmental temp for rats?
21-24 degrees C
Humidity 45-55%
What is the gestation length for rats?
21-23 days
What type of estrus cycle do rats have?
Continuous polyestrus
Why are rats useful for toxicology studies?
Inability to vomit
Type of rat that has been randomly bred; not inbred. Referred to as outbred.
Stock
Type of rat that has been inbred
Strain
What is the goal of a strain?
Develop a strain of animals that are genetically homozygous
What is inbreeding depression?
Decrease in reproductive capability of successive generations
A strain is designated with what?
Upper case letters
A substrain will have a ___ ____ after the strain designation
Slanted Line
Develop as a result of genetic mutation in existing strains, then perpetuated in future generations
Coisogenic
In what manner are Athymic (nude) animals developed?
Congenic
What is an F1 hybrid?
Direct result of mating between 2 different inbred strains
Derived by removing specific DNA sequences from one strain or species & inserting them into an ovum just after fertilization. The ovum is then transplanted into a pseudopregnant female that serves as a serrogate. Used for gene-related disorders.
Transgenic Animals
Removes or blocks a specific gene from an animal; used to study diseases associated with defective genes. Ex) Sickle cell anemia; cystic fibrosis.
Knockout animals
What animals assist in the development of gene therapy?
Knockout animals
Albany rats are linked to what disease?
Mammary tumors
Brown rats are linked to what disease?
Myeloid leukemia
Buffalo rats are linked to what disease?
Autoimmune
Fisher 344 rats are linked to what disease?
Esophogeal and bladder cancer
What are some common strategies used to confirm genetic purity?
Protein electrophoresis, serologic testing, mandible measurement and backcross mating
What is the preferred bedding for rat housing?
hardwood shavings or corn cob
Why are soft woods not used for bedding?
Respiratory problems and hepatic issues
What can excess noise cause?
Audiogenic seizures, cannabolism and decreased reproductive rates
What can low humidity cause?
Ring tail
Pregnant/lactating females require __X the amount of normal nutrition
4X
Rat food should contain __-__% protein and __% fat
20-25% protein and 4% fat
What is the shelf life for most commercial foods?
6 months passed milling date
What are three different restraint tools for rats?
Plastic restraint boxes, stockinette, plastic cone
Bacterial disease caused by Bacillus piliformis causing hepatic necrosis and myocardial degeneration
Tyzzer’s disease
Opportunistic pathogen, causes URI and pneumonia
Pasteurellosis
Rare bacterial disease in rats characterized by chromodacryorrhea, nasopharynx inflammation, pleuritis and meningitis
Streptococcus
“Rat bite fever” or “Haverhill fever”
Present in nasopharynx of normal rats, not disease causing agent
Streptobacillosis
Most significant viral diseas of rats
Sialodacryoadenitis
Viral disease that usually remains subclinical in rats
Sendai virus
