Mongolian Gerbils Research Articles

Exploring Alternative Anthelmintic Compounds: Impact of Peruvin, Hentriacontane/1-Nonacosanol and Their Synergistic Effect on the Health of Meriones unguiculatus infected with Haemonchus contortus

Haemonchus contortus is a highly pathogenic blood-feeding parasite affecting sheep and goats, leading to significant economic losses. With increasing resistance to conventional anthelmintics, exploring plant-based alternatives is crucial. In vitro, studies suggest that peruvin and hentriacontane/1-nonacosanol, isolated from Artemisia cina (Asteraceae), may synergistically control Haemonchus contortus. However, their in vivo efficacy and safety are unestablished. This study evaluated these compounds' anthelmintic activity and health effects and their synergistic mixture in Meriones unguiculatus (gerbils). The compounds were isolated using open-column chromatography and identified by spectroscopic techniques. Gerbils were artificially infected with H. contortus following dexamethasone treatment to enhance infection. Anthelmintic activity was assessed by larval reduction in the stomach, blood biochemical parameters using a blood chemistry analyzer, and the anatomopathological changes in kidney and liver tissues. Peruvin (0.4mg/kg) and hentriacontane/1-nonacosanol (2.60mg/kg) achieved larvicidal reductions of 84.86% and 74.05%, respectively, while their synergistic mixture (0.08/0.0017mg/kg) resulted in a 100% reduction. Histopathological analysis revealed minor inflammation and albuminous degeneration, primarily affecting the liver. The peruvin-treated group showed notable kidney damage, while hepatic alterations were similar across both compounds. Although effective, further research is needed to optimize dosing and ensure safety

Silicone-based AC102-loaded cochlear implant coatings protect residual hearing in an animal model of cochlear implantation

Cochlear implant users with residual hearing benefit synergistically from combined electrical stimulation via the cochlear implant and preserved residual hearing after surgery. However, direct mechanical trauma and subsequent inflammation may deteriorate hearing function. AC102, a novel otoprotective pyridoindole with anti-apoptotic and anti-oxidative properties significantly improved hearing recovery following cochlear implantation when administered intratympanically prior to surgery. Additionally, AC102 exerts neurotrophic effects, possibly aiding in the preservation of auditory nerve fibers and spiral ganglion neurons. Rapid clearance of the drug, however, might be a limiting factor to further attenuate the inflammatory response and maintain neuronal health. The aim of the current study was to design an AC102-loaded electrode array for sustained drug delivery and investigate its effects in hearing preservation cochlear implantation.First, the release-kinetics of AC102 were investigated in vitro and modelled by the Higuchi equation of drug release. An electrode array coated with 10% AC102 was manufactured, its release kinetics evaluated, and subsequently tested in vivo. 20 normal hearing Mongolian gerbils were unilaterally implanted with an AC102-loaded or an unloaded control electrode. Compound action potentials were measured prior to cochlear implantation and serially over 28 days. Hair cells, inner hair cell synapses, and auditory nerve fibers were quantified in cochlear whole-mounts by immunofluorescence staining.AC102 release from silicone coating could be predictably modelled by the Higuchi equation of drug release. The electrode array with an AC102-silicone depot enabled non-linear sustained drug release with initially higher release concentrations. In vivo, the AC102-loaded electrode array significantly recovered auditory threshold shifts near the maximum insertion depth over 28 days. In the apical region, a significant recovery was noticed only until day 14, after which threshold shifts aligned between groups. Histologically, AC102-loaded electrodes significantly preserved outer hair cells apical of the maximum insertion depth and inner hair cells and neuronal structures at the tip of the inserted electrode.In conclusion, the drug-loaded electrode arrays could predictably release AC102 over a period of 28 days. AC102 enabled the restoration of auditory thresholds near the area of maximum insertion, which is the desired region to be preserved in cochlear implant recipients with residual hearing.

Paternal behaviour is associated with high levels of OT in plasma and the presence OTR in the mPOA/BNST in the Mongolian gerbil (Meriones unguiculatus)

The exhibition of paternal behaviour has been associated with high peripheral concentrations of oxytocin (OT) and levels of oxytocin receptors (OTRs) in the paraventricular and supraoptic nuclei of the hypothalamus. The presence of OTRs in the medial preoptic area (mPOA), bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST), medial amygdala (MeA), and olfactory bulb (OB) has not been studied extensively in the paternal context, although these nuclei are essential in the regulation of paternal behaviour. The aim of this study was to determine whether there is an association between paternal response of sexually inexperienced males of the Mongolian gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus) and OT concentrations in plasma, as well as the presence of OTRs in the mPOA, BNST, MeA, and OB. We used sexually inexperienced gerbils: ten paternal (PAT) males and 10 males aggressive with pups (AGG). PAT males and AGG males were subjected to paternal behaviour tests. Then, blood samples were taken to quantify OT concentrations. The brains were dissected for OTR immunohistochemistry analyses. PAT males had significantly higher plasma levels of OT and numbers of cells with OTR immunoreactivity (ir) in the mPOA/BNST. These results indicated an association between paternal behaviour and peripheral concentrations of OT, as well as the presence of OTRs in the mPOA and BNST. This suggests that OT and OTRs could participate in the regulation of paternal behaviour in the Mongolian gerbil.

Model of superior semicircular canal dehiscence: asymmetrical vestibular dysfunction induces reversible balance impairment.

Superior semicircular canal dehiscence (SSCD) is a vestibular-cochlear disorder in humans in which a pathological third mobile window of the otic capsule creates changes to the flow of sound pressure energy through the perilymph/endolymph. The primary symptoms include sound-induced dizziness/vertigo, inner ear conductive hearing loss, autophony, headaches, and visual problems. We have developed an animal model of this human condition in the Mongolian Gerbil that uses surgically created SSCD to induce the condition. A feature that is unique in this model is that spontaneous resurfacing of the dehiscence occurs via osteoneogenesis without a subsequent intervention. In this study, we completed our assessment of this model to include reversible asymmetrical vestibular impairments that interfere with balance. Adult Mongolian gerbils (N = 6) were trained to complete a balance beam task. They were also trained to perform a Rotarod task. After 10 days of training, preoperative ABR and c+VEMP testing was followed by a surgical fenestration of the left superior semicircular canal. Balance beam testing recommenced at postoperative day 6 and continued through postoperative day 15 at which point final ABR and c+VEMP testing was carried out. Behavioral comparison of preoperative and postoperative performance show a significant decrease in Rotarod performance, increased rates of falling, and an increase in time to cross the balance beam. Impairments were the most significant at postoperative day 7 with a return toward preoperative performance by postoperative day 14. This behavioral impairment was correlated with residual impairments to auditory thresholds and vestibular myogenic amplitudes at postoperative day 14. These results confirm that aberrant asymmetric vestibular output in our model of SSCD results in reversible balance impairments. The level of these behavioral impairments is directly correlated with severity of the vestibular dysfunction as we have previously reported for peripheral ear physiology and cognition.

Individual and combined effects of commercial glyphosate, atrazine and 2,4-D herbicides on the gerbil ventral prostate

Exposure to pesticides, individually or in a mixture, in drinking water is one of the main sources of human contamination, which causes adverse effects on the reproductive system. Our study aimed to investigate, the effects of a 90-day exposure to low concentrations of glyphosate (GLY), atrazine (ATZ), and 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), in commercial formulations, on morphological, molecular, and hormonal parameters of the ventral prostate of gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus). The animals were exposed via drinking water to individual concentrations of GLY: 700 μg/L, ATZ: 3 μg/L, and 2,4-D: 70 μg/L, as well as to their mixture (MIX). Our findings showed an increase in prostatic complex relative weight in ATZ-exposed animals. Stereological and morphometric techniques indicated an increase in the percentage and thickness of muscular stroma, following an increase in the amount of collagen and reticular fibers in the MIX group. Histopathological analysis showed a decrease in the incidence of epithelial atrophy, subepithelial inflammation, and microacini in the MIX. On the other hand, ATZ-exposed animals showed an increase in hyperplasia and total prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN). The expression of caspase-3 decreased and estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) increased in the 2,4-D and MIX. Western blotting showed an increase in estrogen receptor beta (ERβ) expression in MIX-exposed animals. Testosterone levels decreased in animals from the GLY, ATZ and 2,4-D groups. Our findings provide evidence that individual or combined exposure to herbicides causes hormonal imbalance and morphological alterations, besides favoring the incidence of proliferative lesions in the prostate, predisposing the gland to more severe injuries.

Tinnitus is associated with increased extracellular matrix density in the auditory cortex of Mongolian gerbils

Most scientists agree that subjective tinnitus is the pathological result of an interaction of damage to the peripheral auditory system and central neuroplastic adaptations. Here we investigate such tinnitus related adaptations in the primary auditory cortex (AC) 7 and 13 days after noise trauma induction of tinnitus by quantifying the density of the extracellular matrix (ECM) in the AC of Mongolian gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus). The ECM density has been shown to be relevant for neuroplastic processes and synaptic stability within the cortex. We utilized a mild monaural acoustic noise trauma in overall 22 gerbils to induce tinnitus and a sham exposure in 16 control (C) animals. Tinnitus was assessed by a behavioral response paradigm. Animals were separated for a presence (T) or absence (NT) of a tinnitus percept by a behavioral task. The ECM density 7 and 13 days after trauma was quantified using immunofluorescence luminance of Wisteria floribunda lectin-fluoresceine-5-isothiocyanate (WFA-FITC) on histological slices of the primary AC, relative to the non-auditory brainstem as a reference area. At both timepoints, we found that the WFA-FITC luminance of the AC of NT animals was not significantly different from that of C animals. However, we found a significant increase of luminance in T animals’ ACs compared to NT or C animals’ cortices. This effect was found exclusively on the AC side contralateral to the trauma ear. These results point to a hemisphere specific process of stabilization of synaptic connections in primary AC, which may be involved in the chronic manifestation of tinnitus.

Increased listening effort and cochlear neural degeneration underlie behavioral deficits in speech perception in noise in normal hearing middle-aged adults.

Middle-age is a critical period of rapid changes in brain function that presents an opportunity for early diagnostics and intervention for neurodegenerative conditions later in life. Hearing loss is one such early indicator linked to many comorbidities later in life. However, current clinical tests fail to capture hearing difficulties for ∼10% of middle-aged adults seeking help at hearing clinics. Cochlear neural degeneration (CND) could play a role in these hearing deficits, but our current understanding is limited by the lack of objective diagnostics and uncertainty regarding its perceptual consequences. Here, using a cross-species approach, we measured envelope following responses (EFRs) - neural ensemble responses to sound originating from the peripheral auditory pathway - in young and middle-aged adults with normal audiometric thresholds, and compared these responses to young and middle-aged Mongolian gerbils, where CND was histologically confirmed. We observed near identical changes in EFRs across species that were associated with CND. Perceptual effects measured as behavioral readouts showed deficits in the most challenging listening conditions and were associated with CND. Additionally, pupil-indexed listening effort increased even at moderate task difficulties where behavioral outcomes were matched. Our results reveal perceptual deficits in middle-aged adults driven by CND and increases in listening effort, which may result in increased listening fatigue and conversational disengagement.

Gut microbiota is involved in leptin-induced thermoregulation in Mongolian gerbil (Meriones unguiculatus).

Leptin is a hormone that secreted by adipocytes and may promote energy expenditure by increasing thermogenesis. Our previous studies have shown that thermo-transient receptor potentials (thermo-TRPs) and gut microbiota are associated with thermoregulation in Mongolian gerbils, which are characterized by relative high serum leptin concentrations. Here, we test whether leptin can stimulate non-shivering thermogenesis (NST) in Mongolian gerbils, and whether thermo-TRPs and gut microbiota are involved in leptin-induced thermogenesis. First, gerbils were given acute leptin treatment (ALT) with different doses. Results showed that ALT significantly increased the body temperature of gerbils and change the composition of gut microbiota. Moreover, ALT groups showed a trend towards increased expression of uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) in brown adipose tissue (BAT). Then, we investigated the effect of chronic leptin treatment (CLT) on gerbils. Surprisingly, CLT did not affect gerbils' food intake and body weight, but it significantly increased the body temperature at the end. Besides, CLT did not affect the expression of thermogenic markers in BAT, white adipose tissue (WAT) and skeletal muscle. However, CLT increased the expression of leptin receptors and TRPV2 in the small intestine and affected the composition of gut microbiota. Together, our data suggest leptin may increase body temperature by regulating gut microbiota. In conclusion, the Mongolian gerbils with serum hyperleptin is beneficial for adapting the cold living environments, and TRPV2 and gut microbiota are involved.

Strain- and Subtype-Specific Replication of Genotype 3 Hepatitis E Viruses in Mongolian Gerbils

Since Mongolian gerbils are broadly susceptible to hepatitis E virus (HEV), including genotypes 1, 4, 5, and 8 (HEV-1, HEV-5, HEV-5, and HEV-8) and rat HEV, they are a useful small animal model for HEV. However, we have observed that the subtypes HEV-3k and HEV-3ra in genotype 3 HEV (HEV-3) were not infected efficiently in the gerbils. A small-animal model for HEV-3 is also needed since HEV-3 is responsible for major zoonotic HEV infections. To investigate whether gerbils can be used as animal models for other subtypes of HEV-3, we injected gerbils with five HEV-3 subtypes (HEV-3b, -3e, -3f, -3k, and -3ra) and compared the infectivity of the subtypes. We detected viral RNA in the gerbils’ feces. High titers of anti-HEV IgG antibodies in serum were induced in all HEV-3b/ch-, HEV-3f-, and HEV-3e-injected gerbils. Especially, the HEV-3e-injected animals released high levels of viruses into their feces for an extended period. The virus replication was limited in the HEV-3b/wb-injected and HEV-3k-injected groups. Although viral RNA was detected in HEV-3ra-injected gerbils, the copy numbers in fecal specimens were low; no antibodies were detected in the sera. These results indicate that although HEV-3′s infectivity in gerbils depends on the subtype and strain, Mongolian gerbils have potential as a small-animal model for HEV-3. A further comparison of HEV-3e with different genotype strains (HEV-4i and HEV-5) and different genera (rat HEV) revealed different ALT elevations among the strains, and liver damage occurred in HEV-4i- and HEV-5-infected but not HEV-3e- or rat HEV-infected gerbils, demonstrating variable pathogenicity across HEVs from different genera and genotypes in Mongolian gerbils. HEV-4i- and HEV-5-infected Mongolian gerbils might be candidate animal models to examine HEV’s pathogenicity.

Environmental enrichment for gerbils in the veterinary and domestic environment

Small exotics, commonly referred to as ‘small furries’, include hamsters, gerbils, rabbits and an array of other species. Gerbils are one of the easiest rodents to maintain and manage due to their typically non-aggressive nature. Usually found in deserts and semi-arid geographical regions of the world, the Mongolian gerbils available today originated from 20 pairs of captured animals. These were maintained in 1935 in a closed, random-bred colony at the Kitasato Institute in Japan.

Safety evaluations for transtympanic laser stimulation of the cochlea in Mongolian gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus)

Infrared laser stimulation of the cochlea has been proposed as a possible alternative to conventional auditory prostheses. Whereas previous studies have focused primarily on the short-term effects of laser stimulation, the practical application of this technics requires an investigation into whether prolonged laser exposure can induce neural responses and safely. This study assessed the effect of laser-induced damage to the cochlea on auditory perception using Mongolian gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus) trained with a classical conditioning task. The broadband noise was presented as a conditioned stimulus, and reward licking was recorded as a conditioned response. After training, the subject’s cochlea was exposed to a continuous pulsed laser for 15 h. Broadband noise of various intensities was presented without pairing it with water before and after laser exposure to assess the decrease in auditory perception due to laser-induced injury. The licking rate did not change after laser exposure of 6.6 W/cm2 or weaker but drastically decreased after 26.4 W/cm2 or higher. These findings showed, for the first time, that the safety margin of long-term, at least several hours, cochlear laser stimulation exists and will contribute to the appropriate delimitation of the safe and effective laser stimulation parameters in future research.

Impacts of ectoparasite flea infestation on gut microbiota of the Meriones unguiculatus in a rodent-flea system.

Fleas, along with one of their host species, Meriones unguiculatus, possess the capability to act as vectors in the transmission of plague. Parasitism by fleas may markedly influence the physiology and immune system of their hosts. Gut microbiota plays an important role in the growth and development of rodents. However, few studies have explored the impacts of ectoparasitic flea on the gut microbiome of rodents. This study investigated the immunological responses and changes in the gut microbial diversity and composition in both wild and laboratory rodents infested with fleas and laboratory rodents infested with Ctenocephalides felis. We measured immune reactions post-infestation by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and explored the effects of ectoparasitic infestation on the diversity and composition of the rodent gut microbiota in microbiome studies by 16S rRNA gene sequencing techniques. After flea infestation, results from 16S rRNA gene sequencing techniques indicated a significant increase in alpha diversity, affecting the composition of the gut microbiota. At the genus level, the abundance of the harmful bacterium Desulfovibrio increased. Beta diversity analyses showed significant differences between the gut microbiota of the experimental and control groups. ELISA results revealed significantly elevated levels of IgG in parasitized mice, while the differences in IgA levels were not significant. Flea infections affect the composition and diversity of the gut microbiota in the M. unguiculatu, and it has been found that the biomarker Desulfovibrio increases following flea infection in these rodents. Our results indicate that the gut microbiota can regulate the stability of the rodent-flea system. These findings may provide a foundation for exploring preventive measures against plague and aid in developing more effective treatments for the infection.

Establishment of enterically transmitted hepatitis virus animal models using lipid nanoparticle-based full-length viral genome RNA delivery system

BackgroundEnterically transmitted hepatitis viruses, such as hepatitis A virus (HAV) and hepatitis E virus (HEV), remain notable threats to public health. However, stable and reliable animal models of HAV and...

Context or arousal? Function of drumming in Mongolian gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus)

Drumming is a non-vocal auditory display producing airborne as well as seismic vibrations by tapping body extremities on a surface. It is mostly described as an alarm signal but is also discussed to signal dominance or mating quality. To clarify the function of drumming in Mongolian gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus), we compared the occurrence of drumming during predator, opposite-sex and same-sex encounters. We tested 48 captive Mongolian gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus) in three experiments. In predator experiments, subjects were exposed alone or with their cagemate to aerial and terrestrial predator dummies. In social encounter experiments, familiar and unfamiliar male–female dyads and same-sex dyads were confronted. For the same-sex encounters, a dominance index was calculated for each subject based on the number of won and lost conflicts. Drumming and drumming-call combinations were counted, and a multi-parametric sound analysis was performed. In all experiments drumming and drumming-call combinations occurred. In predator experiments, more subjects drummed when confronted with the predator stimulus than in the habituation phase. In social encounter experiments, more subjects drummed when facing an unfamiliar than a familiar conspecific. In addition, the accompanying call type and body posture of the sender differed between experiments. Thus, we suggest that whereas drumming signals an increased arousal state of the sender, the accompanying call type and the body posture signal context specific information.

Time-restricted feeding modulates gene expression related with rhythm and inflammation in Mongolian gerbils

Time-restricted feeding (TRF) has the potential to modulate circadian rhythm and widely studied in humans and laboratory mice. However, less is known about the physiological responses to TRF in wild mammals. Here, we used Mongolian gerbils, Meriones unguiculatus, to explore the effect of 6-week TRF on gene expression related with circadian rhythm and inflammation. The TRF gerbils had higher cumulative food intake than the ad libitum (AL) group, but body mass, feeding frequency/time and metabolic rate did not differ between groups. In the hypothalamus, downregulation of rhythm-related genes Per3, Cry1 and Dbp was detected in the daytime-restricted feeding (DRF) group and Cry1 was downregulated in the nighttime-restricted feeding (NRF) group. In the liver, the expression of Per1/3, Rev-erbα/β and Dbp was lower, and Bmal1 was higher in the DRF than in AL group, while NRF gerbils showed no changes. In the colon, the expression of Bmal1 and Cry1 was higher but Per3, Rev-erbα/β and Dbp were lower in the DRF than in AL group. Further, the expression of inflammation-related genes such as NF-κB, IL-1β, IL-18 and Nlrp3 was lower in the liver of DRF gerbils, and IL-1β was lower both in the hypothalamus and liver of NRF gerbils. Moreover, the genes related with inflammation such as NF-κB, Nlrp3, IL-10/18/1β and Tnf-α were positively or negatively correlated with multiple rhythm-related genes in the central and peripheral organs. In conclusion, TRF, particularly DRF, could modulate rhythm-related genes in the central and peripheral tissues and reduce hepatic expression of inflammation-related genes in gerbils.

Unsupervised discovery of family specific vocal usage in the Mongolian gerbil.

In nature, animal vocalizations can provide crucial information about identity, including kinship and hierarchy. However, lab-based vocal behavior is typically studied during brief interactions between animals with no prior social relationship, and under environmental conditions with limited ethological relevance. Here, we address this gap by establishing long-term acoustic recordings from Mongolian gerbil families, a core social group that uses an array of sonic and ultrasonic vocalizations. Three separate gerbil families were transferred to an enlarged environment and continuous 20-day audio recordings were obtained. Using a variational autoencoder (VAE) to quantify 583,237 vocalizations, we show that gerbils exhibit a more elaborate vocal repertoire than has been previously reported and that vocal repertoire usage differs significantly by family. By performing gaussian mixture model clustering on the VAE latent space, we show that families preferentially use characteristic sets of vocal clusters and that these usage preferences remain stable over weeks. Furthermore, gerbils displayed family-specific transitions between vocal clusters. Since gerbils live naturally as extended families in complex underground burrows that are adjacent to other families, these results suggest the presence of a vocal dialect which could be exploited by animals to represent kinship. These findings position the Mongolian gerbil as a compelling animal model to study the neural basis of vocal communication and demonstrates the potential for using unsupervised machine learning with uninterrupted acoustic recordings to gain insights into naturalistic animal behavior.

Coconut oil affects aging-related changes in Mongolian gerbil liver morphophysiology

Aging causes changes in liver morphophysiology, altering hepatocyte morphology and organ function. Due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, coconut oil has been used as a therapeutic agent in diets, in an attempt to attenuate alterations in the liver naturally caused by aging. Herein, we evaluated the effects of coconut oil consumption during aging on Mongolian gerbil liver morphophysiology. The animals were divided into three experimental groups: the gerbils in the Adult Control Group (AC) were euthanized at 3 months of age, the gerbils in the Old Control Group (OC) at 15 months of age, and the gerbils in the Coconut Oil Group (CO) received 0.1 ml/day of coconut oil for 12 months and were euthanized at 15 months of age. Prolonged consumption of coconut oil during aging prevented the animals and the liver from gaining mass. However, the other results showed that coconut oil intensified the morphophysiological alterations of aging, promoting an increase in the hepatocyte cytoplasm and nuclei. In addition, an increase in blood vessels, reticular fibers, lipid droplets, and lipofuscin granules were observed in the CO group. Finally, the results also demonstrated that coconut oil promotes an increase in lipid peroxidation, indicated by an increase in MDA levels. We therefore conclude that coconut oil has the potential to intensify the morphophysiological alterations that occur in the liver during aging.

Retinal neuroanatomy of two emerging model organisms, the spiny mouse (Acomys dimidiatus) and the Mongolian gerbil (Meriones unguiculatus)

Current research using animal models to investigate retinal cell biology and model retinal degenerative diseases largely utilize small mammals that are nocturnal and lack the ability to restore lost vision. In contrast, the Mongolian gerbil (Meriones) is a diurnal rodent with good photopic vision, and the spiny mouse (Acomys) is a small desert-dwelling rodent with remarkable regenerative capabilities. The goal of this study was to identify antibodies that detect retinal cell classes in Meriones and Acomys, and to describe the retinal anatomy of these two species in comparison to outbred laboratory mice (Mus musculus). Immunohistochemistry was performed on retinal sections with antibodies for various retinal cell types. Sections were imaged by light, fluorescence, and confocal microscopy. Cell density, morphology, and placement were compared between species qualitatively and quantitatively. Our analyses revealed a classic assembly of retinal cells in Meriones and Acomys, with a few deviations compared to Mus. Meriones displayed the highest density of cones and Acomys the lowest. A higher density of bipolar cell bodies in the proximal portion of the inner nuclear layer was observed in both Acomys and Meriones compared to Mus, and both species exhibited an increase in amacrine cell density compared to Mus. Our results provide a foundation for future research into the visual system adaptations of these interesting species.

Heterogeneous spatial tuning in the auditory pathway of the Mongolian Gerbil (Meriones unguiculatus).

Sound-source localization is based on spatial cues arising due to interactions of sound waves with the torso, head and ears. Here, we evaluated neural responses to free-field sound sources in the central nucleus of the inferior colliculus (CIC), the medial geniculate body (MGB) and the primary auditory cortex (A1) of Mongolian gerbils. Using silicon probes we recorded from anaesthetized gerbils positioned in the centre of a sound-attenuating, anechoic chamber. We measured rate-azimuth functions (RAFs) with broad-band noise of varying levels presented from loudspeakers spanning 210° in azimuth and characterized RAFs by calculating spatial centroids, Equivalent Rectangular Receptive Fields (ERRFs), steepest slope locations and spatial-separation thresholds. To compare neuronal responses with behavioural discrimination thresholds from the literature we performed a neurometric analysis based on signal-detection theory. All structures demonstrated heterogeneous spatial tuning with a clear dominance of contralateral tuning. However, the relative amount of contralateral tuning decreased from the CIC to A1. In all three structures spatial tuning broadened with increasing sound-level. This effect was strongest in CIC and weakest in A1. Neurometric spatial-separation thresholds compared well with behavioural discrimination thresholds for locations directly in front of the animal. Our findings contrast with those reported for another rodent, the rat, which exhibits homogenous and sharply delimited contralateral spatial tuning. Spatial tuning in gerbils resembles more closely the tuning reported in A1 of cats, ferrets and non-human primates. Interestingly, gerbils, in contrast to rats, share good low-frequency hearing with carnivores and non-human primates, which may account for the observed spatial tuning properties.

The toxic effects of Helicobacter pylori and benzo(a)pyrene in inducing atrophic gastritis and gut microbiota dysbiosis in Mongolian gerbils.

Food chemical and microbiological contamination are major global food safety issues. This study investigated the combined effects of the food-borne pathogen Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) and the pollutant benzo(a)pyrene (Bap) on atrophic gastritis and gut microbiota in Mongolian gerbils. The results demonstrated that simultaneous administration of H. pylori and Bap caused more severe weight loss, DNA damage, and gastritis in Mongolian gerbils compared with those exposed to H. pylori or Bap alone. The combination also significantly increased the serum level of proinflammatory cytokines, including IL-1β (p < .05), IL-6 (p < .0001), and TNF-α (p < .05). Additionally, the H. pylori and Bap combination altered the composition of gut microbiota in Mongolian gerbils: the relative abundance of Lactobacillus and Ligilactobacillus at the genus level (p < .05) was significantly reduced while the relative abundance of Allobaculum and Erysipelotrichaceae enhanced (p < .0001, p < .05). Our study revealed that the synergy of H. pylori and Bap can boost the development of atrophic gastritis and lead to gut microbiota dysbiosis in Mongolian gerbils, which provides essential implications for preventing contaminated foods to sustain life and promote well-being.