ScienceDaily: Rodent News

Personality test finds some mouse lemurs shy, others bold

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 14:14:14 EDT

In the last 10 years the study of animal personality has gained ground with behavioral ecologists. Researchers have now found distinct personalities in the grey mouse lemur, the tiny, saucer-eyed primate native to the African island of Madagascar.

Chemical in antibacterial soap fed to nursing rats harms offspring, study finds

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 12:21:21 EDT

A mother's exposure to triclocarban, a common antibacterial chemical, while nursing her babies shortens the life of her female offspring, a new study in rats finds.

Teaching complete evolutionary stories increases learning

Sat, 15 Jun 2013 15:24:24 EDT

Evolution is often thought to be a difficult subject to teach. A novel teaching approach in which undergraduates studied two integrative evolutionary scenarios all the way from the molecular level via the genetic and organismal levels to the population level improved the students' ability to explain and describe evolutionary principles. The results suggest that wider use of such integrated accounts in teaching could improve students' comprehension of evolution.

Interleukin-22 protects against post-influenza bacterial superinfection

Thu, 30 May 2013 11:13:13 EDT

Researchers have shown in a mouse model that interleukin-22 protects against bacterial superinfections that can arise following influenza.

Differences between 'marathon mice' and 'couch potato mice' reveal key to muscle fitness

Wed, 08 May 2013 10:26:26 EDT

Using "marathon" and "couch potato" mouse models, researchers have discovered that microRNAs link the defining characteristics of fit muscles: The abilities to burn fuel and switch between muscle fiber types. They also found that active people have higher levels of one microRNA than sedentary people.

Epilepsy cured in mice using brain cells

Fri, 03 May 2013 23:03:03 EDT

Epilepsy that does not respond to drugs can be halted in adult mice by transplanting a specific type of cell into the brain, researchers have discovered, raising hope that a similar treatment might work in severe forms of human epilepsy.

Human brain cells developed in lab, grow in mice

Fri, 03 May 2013 23:03:03 EDT

A key type of human brain cell developed in the laboratory grows seamlessly when transplanted into the brains of mice, researchers have discovered, raising hope that these cells might one day be used to treat people with Parkinson’s disease, epilepsy, and possibly even Alzheimer’s disease, as well as and complications of spinal cord injury such as chronic pain and spasticity.

Scientists revolutionize creation of genetically altered mice to model human disease

Thu, 02 May 2013 13:17:17 EDT

Scientists have efficiently created mouse models with multiple gene mutations in a matter of weeks. Because the method does not require embryonic stem cells, the approach also could allow any animal to become a model organism.

New imaging technique to visualize bio-metals and molecules simultaneously

Thu, 02 May 2013 08:17:17 EDT

Metal elements and molecules interact in the body but visualizing them together has always been a challenge. Researchers have now developed a new molecular imaging technology that enables them to visualize bio-metals and bio-molecules simultaneously in a live mouse. This new technology will enable researchers to study the complex interactions between metal elements and molecules in living organisms.

Firefly protein lights up degenerating muscles, aiding muscular-dystrophy research

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 12:58:58 EDT

Scientists have created a mouse model of muscular dystrophy in which degenerating muscle tissue gives off visible light.

Transgenic mice ready to fight obesity, and more

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 08:13:13 EDT

Scientists have investigated mice with a very precisely modified genome. Because it is possible to turn off the Dicer gene in adult mice, they can be used to investigate the processes related to such cognitive functions such as learning and memory. Also scientists have just shown that the new transgenic mouse is suitable to study metabolic dysfunctions resulting in obesity.

From blank round to a potently active substance?

Fri, 19 Apr 2013 12:10:10 EDT

A long-forgotten candidate for antiviral therapy is undergoing a renaissance: Since the 1970s, the small molecule CMA has been considered a potent agent against viral infections, yet it was never approved for clinical use. Scientists have now deciphered how the molecule can actually stimulate the immune system to combat viruses.

Rats' and bats' brains work differently on the move

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 14:22:22 EDT

A new study of brain rhythms in bats and rats challenges a widely-used model -- based on rodent studies -- of how animals navigate their environment. To get a clearer picture of processes in the mammal brain during spatial navigation, neuroscientists must study more species, say scientists involved in the study.

System provides clear brain scans of awake, unrestrained mice

Tue, 09 Apr 2013 13:19:19 EDT

Researchers have shown that the AwakeSPECT system can obtain detailed, functional images of the brain of a freely moving, conscious mouse.

Wild mice have natural protection against Lyme borreliosis

Thu, 04 Apr 2013 07:29:29 EDT

Like humans, mice can become infected with Borrelia. However, not all mice that come into contact with these bacteria contract the dreaded Lyme disease: Animals with a particular gene variant are immune to the bacteria, as scientists demonstrate. Wild mice are the primary hosts for Borrelia, which are transmitted by ticks.

Fast track to mouse modeling

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 12:48:48 EDT

What genes are responsible for the development of breast cancer? What are the brain cell mutations that lead to the onset of Alzheimer's? To find new therapies, scientists have to understand how diseases are triggered at cell level. Experiments on genetically modified mice are an indispensable part of basic medical research. Now a method has been found to help laboratories carry out their work with fewer test animals.

Mate choice in mice is heavily influenced by paternal cues, mouse study shows

Thu, 28 Mar 2013 12:53:53 EDT

Hybrid offspring of different house mice populations show a preference for mating with individuals from their father's original population.

Mice show innate ability to vocalize: Deaf or not, courting male mice make same sounds

Tue, 26 Mar 2013 19:41:41 EDT

While humans and birds must learn to vocalize, a neurophysiologist has found that deaf male mice will vocalize to females the same way as hearing mice. The finding points the way to a more finely focused, genetic tool for teasing out the mysteries of speech and its disorders.

Lemur lookalikes are two new species, DNA says

Tue, 26 Mar 2013 10:15:15 EDT

Scientists have identified two new species of mouse lemur, the saucer-eyed, teacup-sized primates native to the African island of Madagascar.

Smelling genetic information: Molecules allow mice to sniff out the genes of other mice

Thu, 21 Mar 2013 11:02:02 EDT

Scientists have theorized that animals and humans are able to smell certain genes linked to the immune system, which in turn influences their choice of mate. The genes in question are known as MHC (major histocompatibility complex) genes. Selecting a mate with very different MHC genes from one's own makes sense, because your offspring will then have a greater variety of immunity genes -- and a correspondingly greater resistance to disease. But until now, no scent offering information about MHC genes had been discovered among those emitted by humans and animals. Now researchers have managed to do just that.

Mechanism that regulates production of energy-burning brown fat discovered

Wed, 13 Mar 2013 16:07:07 EDT

Scientists have discovered a mechanism that regulates the production of brown fat, a type of fat which plays an important role in heat production and energy metabolism. The findings may lead to new therapies that increase BAT formation to treat obesity.

Some bacteria may protect against disease caused by stomach infection

Tue, 12 Mar 2013 13:47:47 EDT

Half of the world's human population is infected with the stomach bacteria called Helicobacter pylori, yet it causes disease in only about 10 percent of those infected. Other bacteria living in the stomach may be a key factor in whether or not H. pylori causes disease, according to a new study.

Generations of cloned mice with normal lifespans created: 25th generation and counting

Thu, 07 Mar 2013 12:29:29 EST

Using the technique that created Dolly the sheep, researchers have identified a way to produce healthy mouse clones that live a normal lifespan and can be sequentially cloned indefinitely.

Tool for reading the minds of mice developed

Tue, 19 Feb 2013 16:12:12 EST

Scientists have developed a system for observing real-time brain activity in a live mouse. The device could prove useful in studying new treatments for neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's.

Mouse models fail to reproduce inflammatory genomic response to serious injuries

Mon, 11 Feb 2013 16:22:22 EST

Existing mouse models do not appear to accurately reproduce the human genomic response to serious traumatic injury, including major burns, according to a new article. The report from a national consortium investigating the role of inflammation in the body's response to injury finds little correlation between the human response to burns, trauma or a bacterial toxin and that of currently used mouse models for those conditions.

Bisphenol A affects sex-specific reproductive behaviors in a monogamous animal species

Mon, 11 Feb 2013 13:49:49 EST

A series of experiments studied the effects of prenatal exposure to bisphenol A on later reproductive-associated behaviors using a socially and genetically monogamous rodent, the California mouse, which may better mirror most human societies than other rodents.

Colon cancer exhibits a corresponding epigenetic pattern in mice and humans

Thu, 07 Feb 2013 17:21:21 EST

The epigenetic investigation of mice can as a result contribute to early diagnosis of cancer in humans.

Weight loss helps to oust worms

Thu, 17 Jan 2013 18:32:32 EST

Scientists have discovered that weight loss plays an important role in the body’s response to fighting off intestinal worms.

Luminescent mice used to track cancer and aging in real-time

Thu, 17 Jan 2013 15:19:19 EST

Researchers have developed a new method to visualize aging and tumor growth in mice using a gene closely linked to these processes.

New stem cell approach for blindness successful in mice

Mon, 07 Jan 2013 16:04:04 EST

Blind mice can see again, after researchers transplanted developing cells into their eyes and found they could re-form the entire light-sensitive layer of the retina.

Staphylococcus aureus: Why it just gets up your nose

Thu, 27 Dec 2012 17:33:33 EST

Researchers have identified a mechanism by which the bacterium Staphylococcus aureus colonizes our nasal passages. The study shows for the first time that a protein located on the bacterial surface called clumping factor B has high affinity for the skin protein loricrin.

Sync to grow: Oscillation of gene activity may underlie how embryos grow in proportion

Thu, 20 Dec 2012 08:01:01 EST

Researchers are one step closer to understanding how embryos develop and grow while always keeping the same proportions between their various parts. Their findings, published today in Nature, reveal that scaling of the future vertebrae in a mouse embryo is controlled by how the expression of some specific genes oscillates, in a coordinated way, between neighboring cells.

From fish to human: Research reveals how fins became legs

Mon, 10 Dec 2012 12:45:45 EST

Vertebrates' transition to living on land, instead of only in water, represented a major event in the history of life. Now, researchers provide new evidence that the development of hands and feet occurred through the gain of new DNA elements that activate particular genes.

Why some strains of Lyme disease bacteria are common and others are not

Tue, 04 Dec 2012 08:13:13 EST

New clues about the bacteria that cause Lyme disease could lead to a novel strategy to reduce infections, according to new research. The study reveals that the immune system of the white-footed mouse, a very common reservoir for the bacteria that causes the disease responds differently to different strains of the bacterium, a finding that will help scientists tweak the animals' immune systems to prevent spread of infection.

How, in the animal world, a daughter avoids mating with her father: Paternal 'voice' recognition

Thu, 29 Nov 2012 23:26:26 EST

Paternal recognition – being able to identify males from your father’s line – is important for the avoidance of inbreeding, and one way that mammals can do this is through recognizing the calls of paternal kin. This was thought to occur only in large-brained animals with complex social groups, but a new study provides evidence in a tiny, solitary primate that challenges this theory.

New brain gene gives us edge over apes, study suggests

Wed, 14 Nov 2012 11:34:34 EST

Scientists have taken a step forward in helping to solve one of life's greatest mysteries -- what makes us human?

Virtual reality puts human in rat world: 'Beaming' technology transforms human-animal interaction

Wed, 31 Oct 2012 21:42:42 EDT

Using cutting-edge virtual reality technology, researchers have "beamed" a person into a rat facility allowing the rat and human to interact with each other on the same scale.

Animal model of typhoid fever could lead to better vaccines

Thu, 25 Oct 2012 12:22:22 EDT

The first mouse model of the common bacterial disease typhoid fever is reported in a new study. Because the animals show human-like symptoms and respond positively to immunization, they could be used to develop more effective vaccines against the deadly pathogen.

Scientists create first mouse model of typhoid fever

Thu, 25 Oct 2012 12:18:18 EDT

Researchers have created the first true mouse model of typhoid infection. The development promises to advance the study of typhoid and the creation of new vaccines against the infection, which remains a major health threat in developing countries.

Circuit diagram of the mouse brain: Scientists aim to analyse a whole mouse brain under the electron microscope

Tue, 23 Oct 2012 09:05:05 EDT

What happens in the brain when we see, hear, think and remember? To be able to answer questions like this, neuroscientists need information about how the millions of neurons in the brain are connected to each other. Scientists have taken a crucial step towards obtaining a complete circuit diagram of the brain of the mouse, a key model organism for the neurosciences. Researchers have developed a method for preparing the whole mouse brain for a special microscopy process. With this, the resolution at which the brain tissue can be examined is so high that the fine extensions of almost every single neuron are visible.

Bacterial protein in house dust spurs asthma, study finds

Mon, 15 Oct 2012 12:17:17 EDT

A bacterial protein in common house dust may worsen allergic responses to indoor allergens, according to new research. The finding is the first to document the presence of the protein flagellin in house dust, bolstering the link between allergic asthma and the environment.

Singing mice show signs of learning

Wed, 10 Oct 2012 17:21:21 EDT

Guys who imitate Luciano Pavarotti or Justin Bieber to get the girls aren't alone. Male mice may do a similar trick, matching the pitch of other males' ultrasonic serenades. The mice also have certain brain features, somewhat similar to humans and song-learning birds, which they may use to change their sounds, according to a new study.

Like songbirds and people, mice can learn new tunes

Wed, 10 Oct 2012 17:21:21 EDT

Ultrasonic vocalizations in mice can be learned based on sounds they hear. Scientists have found the first evidence that the ability to learn vocalizations, a capacity so far believed to be restricted to a handful of bird and mammal species like humans and dolphins, is shared by another species: mice.

Mice with Lou Gehrig's disease not quite what the doctors ordered

Fri, 05 Oct 2012 13:46:46 EDT

You’ve heard the tale before: Scientists can treat diseases like Alzheimer’s and Lou Gehrig’s in mice, but when those same drugs get to human trials, they fail. Can researchers come up with mice that better mimic the patient? In the case of Lou Gehrig’s, some of the latest mice have a problem: they die not because of their spinal nerve disease, but due to blockage of their gut.

Newborn mice depend on mom's signature scent

Thu, 04 Oct 2012 12:15:15 EDT

For newborn mice to suckle for the very first time and survive, they depend on a signature blend of scents that is unique to their mothers. The findings reveal that mom's natural perfume consists of odors emitted from the amniotic fluid, which served to nourish and protect those young mice before they were born.

'Humanized' mice advance study of rheumatoid arthritis; Human stell cells implanted in mice improve chances of better therapies

Thu, 04 Oct 2012 09:35:35 EDT

Researchers have developed the first animal model that duplicates the human response in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), an important step that may enable scientists to discover better medicines to treat the disease. This is the first time human stem cells have been transplanted into mice in order to find RA treatments.

Biologist discovers mammal with salamander-like regenerative abilities

Wed, 26 Sep 2012 13:31:31 EDT

A small African mammal with an unusual ability to regrow damaged tissues could inspire new research in regenerative medicine, a new study finds.

Marijuana use implicated in pregnancy problems

Wed, 12 Sep 2012 10:18:18 EDT

New research indicates marijuana-like compounds called endocannabinoids alter genes and biological signals critical to the formation of a normal placenta during pregnancy and may contribute to pregnancy complications like preeclampsia. A new study offers evidence that abnormal biological signaling by endocannabinoid lipid molecules produced by the body disrupts the movement of early embryonic cells important to a healthy pregnancy.

Early menopause: A genetic mouse model of human primary ovarian insufficiency

Thu, 30 Aug 2012 10:54:54 EDT

Scientists have established a genetic mouse model for primary ovarian insufficiency (POI), a human condition in which women experience irregular menstrual cycles and reduced fertility, and early exposure to estrogen deficiency. POI affects approximately one in a hundred women. In most cases of primary ovarian insufficiency, the cause is mysterious, although genetics is known to play a causative role.

New model of muscular dystrophy provides insight into disease development

Mon, 27 Aug 2012 12:24:24 EDT

Researchers report the development of a mouse model of Fukuyama's muscular dystrophy that copies the pathology seen in the human form of the disease.

Pesticides endanger bats

Mon, 27 Aug 2012 07:42:42 EDT

Bats are a highly threatened group of animals and many people are concerned with their conservation. The entire group of animals is protected in Europe. Therefore it is worrying that bats are not included in the EU-wide authorization procedures for plant protection products. A new study has revealed that pesticide contamination of their diet can lead to long-term effects in bats.

Of mice and melodies: Research on language gene seeks to uncover the origins of the singing mouse

Fri, 10 Aug 2012 19:37:37 EDT

Singing mice are unique rodents that use song to communicate. An important underlying gene that is thought to influence the singing behavior is a transcription factor called FOXP2, sometimes called the 'language gene' because it has been linked to speech disorders in humans. This information could help researchers find areas of the human FOXP2 gene that are associated with autism.

Plant-based compound slows breast cancer in a mouse model

Thu, 02 Aug 2012 18:39:39 EDT

The natural plant compound phenethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC) hinders the development of mammary tumors in a mouse model with similarities to human breast cancer progression, according to a new study.

Protective role of skin microbiota described

Thu, 26 Jul 2012 15:39:39 EDT

Scientists have found that bacteria that normally live in the skin may help protect the body from infection. As the largest organ of the body, the skin represents a major site of interaction with microbes in the environment.

Mouse with human immune system may revolutionize HIV vaccine research

Wed, 18 Jul 2012 14:39:39 EDT

One of the challenges to HIV vaccine development has been the lack of an animal model that reflects the human immune response to the virus. Researchers report that a mouse model manipulated to have a human immune system addresses these key issues and has the potential to reduce significantly the time and costs required to test candidate vaccines.

Naked mole rat may hold the secret to long life

Mon, 02 Jul 2012 16:23:23 EDT

The naked mole rat's brain contains unusually high levels of NRG-1, a neuroprotecting protein, which preserves high activity, bone health, and cognitive ability throughout its lifespan, new research shows. And because the rodent has an 85 percent genetic similarity to humans, continuing investigation could lead to a longer and healthier life for us.

New model to understand the supertasting phenomenon

Thu, 21 Jun 2012 14:14:14 EDT

Researchers have developed a new mouse model that may be useful to study supertasting, the ability to strongly detect food flavors such as bitter and sweet, which often affects a person's food preferences.

Apple peel compound boosts brown fat, reduces obesity in mice

Wed, 20 Jun 2012 21:28:28 EDT

Obesity and its associated problems such as diabetes and fatty liver disease are increasingly common global health concerns. A new study shows that a natural substance found in apple peel can partially protect mice from obesity and some of its harmful effects.

Dog-associated house dust protects against respiratory infection linked to asthma

Tue, 19 Jun 2012 22:57:57 EDT

House dust from homes with dogs appears to protect against infection with a common respiratory virus that is associated with the development of asthma in children.