Octodon Degus (Molina 1782): a Model in Comparative Biology and Biomedicine

Overview

Journal Cold Spring Harb Protoc

Specialties Biomedical Engineering
Pathology

Date 2013 Apr 3

PMID 23547147

Citations 19

Authors

Alvaro O Ardiles

John Ewer

Monica L Acosta

Alfredo Kirkwood

Agustin D Martinez

Luis A Ebensperger

Francisco Bozinovic

Theresa M Lee

Adrian G Palacios

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

One major goal of integrative and comparative biology is to understand and explain the interaction between the performance and behavior of animals in their natural environment. The Caviomorph, Octodon degu, is a native rodent species from Chile, and represents a unique model to study physiological and behavioral traits, including cognitive and sensory abilities. Degus live in colonies and have a well-structured social organization, with a mostly diurnal-crepuscular circadian activity pattern. More notable is the fact that in captivity, they reproduce and live between 5 and 7 yr and show hallmarks of neurodegenerative diseases (including Alzheimer's disease), diabetes, and cancer.

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