Abstract
In a study of the possible introduction of Japanese field vole (Microtus montebelli) and Hungarian voles (M. arvalis) as herbivorous experimental animals, the following biological characteristics were investigated: breeding and reproductive performance; bacterial flora and fermentation in the digestive tracts; and nutritional physiology. The animals are polyestrus, show postpartum estrus on the day of parturition, and there is little or no delay in implantation due to lactation, especially inM. arvalis. On examination of vaginal smears, Japanese field vole did not show any definite pattern, whereas most Hungarian voles showed 6- to 18- day cycles. From the esophageal sac of voles fed rations with a high fiber content, cellulolytic bacteria similar toRuminococcus albus, Ruminococcus flavefaciens, andBacteriodes succinogenes were isolated. More than 1000 000/g anaerobic bacteria were present in the esophageal sac and the pattern and the types of bacteria resembled those found in the rumen. Gastric fermentation took place in the esophageal sac. The pH and total VFAs were much smaller in the fundic and pyloric regions of the stomach than in the esophageal sac. Acetic and lactic acids were the major fermentation products in the esophageal sac. Following deficiency or lowering of the cellulose decomposing abilities, a decrease of VFAs and an increase in lactic acid production in the esophageal sac were observed. These effects resulted in high glucose, FFA and ketone bodies in the blood, and a higher incidence of glucosuria. Diabetes induced by administrations of drugs such as alloxan, streptozotocin and phloridzin were compared usingMicrotus and mice.Microtus had low sensitivity to alloxan but high sensitivity to streptozotocin. The influence of monensin onMicrotus was also investigated by using diets containing 20 and 80 mg/kg monensin. Diets containing 80 mg/kg monensin led to 50 % mortality in 7 weeks and growth was hindered. Gas production from the esophageal sac contents of voles in the monensin-medicated group was much smaller than that of the non-medicated group. In the monensin group the total VFA concentrations of the esophageal sac contents was decreased.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Cowan, R.L., Long, T.A. and Jarret, M., 1968. Digestive capacity of the meadow vole (Microtus pennsylvanicus). J. Anim. Sci., 27: 36.
Dietrich, R.A. and Preston, D.J., 1977a. The meadow, vole (Microtus pennsylvanicus) as a laboratory animal. Lab. Anim. Sci., 27: 494–499.
Dietrich, R.A. and Preston, D.J., 1977b. The tundra vole (Microtus oeconomus) as a laboratory animal. Lab. Anim. Sci., 27: 500–506.
Elliot, F.C., 1963. The meadow vole (Microtus pennsylvanicus) as a bioassay test organism for individual forage plants. Michigan Quart. Bull., 46: 58–72.
Golley, F.B., 1960. Anatomy of the digestive tract ofMicrotus. J. Mammal., 41: 89–99.
Goto, N., Hashizume, R. and Sai, I., 1977. Litter size and vaginal smear inMicrotus montebelli (in Japanese, with English abstract). Honyu Dobutsugaku Zasshi 7: 75–85.
Goto, N. and Hashizume, R., 1978. Pattern of ovulation inMicrotus montebelli (in Japanese, with English abstract). Honyu Dobutsugaku Zasshi 7: 181–188.
Hoover, W.H., Mannings, C.L. and Sheerin, H.E., 1969. Observations on digestion in the golden hamster. J. Anim. Sci., 28: 349–352.
Keys, J.E. Jr. and Van Soest, P.J., 1970. Digestibility of forage by meadow vole (Microtus pennsylvanicus). J. Dairy Sci., 53: 1502–1508.
Kudo, H., Oki, Y. and Minato, H., 1979.Microtus species as laboratory animals. I. Bacterial flora of the esophageal sac ofMicrotus montebelli fed on different rations and its relationship to the cellulolytic bacteria. Bull. Nippon Vet. Zootech. Coll., 28: 13–19.
Kudo, H., Oki, Y. and Minato, H., 1980.Microtus species as laboratory animals. II. Cellulase activities and characteristics of cellulolytic bacteria isolated from the esophageal sac ofMicrotus montebelli. Bull. Nippon Vet. Zootech. Coll., 29: 45–53.
Kudo, H., 1980. Studies on the fermentation in the digestive tracts and its characteristics of nutritional physiology in herbivorousMicrotus (in Japanese, with English abstract). Ph. D. Thesis, Nippon Vet. Zootech. Coll.
Kudo, H. and Oki, Y., 1981a. Comparative studies on biological and reproductive characteristics between JapaneseMicrotus montebelli and HungarianMicrotus arvalis Pallas (in Japanese). Zikken Dobutsu 30; 349–350.
Kudo, H. and Oki, Y., 1981b. Fermentation and VFA productions in the esophageal sac ofMicrotus montebelli fed on different rations. Jpn. J. Vet. Sci., 43: 299–305.
Kudo, H. and Oki, Y., 1981c. Maintenance and reproduction in the laboratory ofMicrotus (Microtus montebelli & Microtus arvalis Pallas) as herbivorous experimental animal (in Japanese). Shiiku to Kannri 2: 6–10.
Kudo, H. and Oki, Y., 1981d.Microtus species as laboratory animals. III. Experimentally induced dietetic diabetes inMicrotus (in Japanese, with English abstract). Bull. Nippon Vet. Zootech. Coll., 30: 56–60.
Kudo, H. and Oki, Y., 1981e.Microtus species as laboratory animals. IV. Experimentally induced diabetes by the administration of various: drugs (Alloxan, Streptozotocin and Phloridzin) (in Japanese, with English abstract). Bull. Nippon Vet. Zootech. Coll., 30: 61–64.
Kudo, H. and Oki, Y., 1982. Breeding and rearing of Japanese field voles (Microtus montebelli Milne-Edwards) and hungarian voles (Microtus arvalis Pallas) as new herbivorous laboratory animal species (in Japanese, with English abstract). Zikken Dobutsu 31: 175–183.
Kudo, H. and Oki, Y., 1983.Microtus species as laboratory animals. V. Effects of monensin onMicrotus montebelli. Bull. Nippon Vet. Zootech. Coll., 32: in press.
Lecyk, M., 1962. The effect of the length of daylight on reproduction in the field vole (Microtus arvalis Pall.). Zoologica poloniae. 12: 189–221.
Lee, C. and Horvath, D.J., 1968. Management of meadow vole (Microtus pennsylvanicus). J. Anim. Sci., 27:33.
Lynch, G.P. and Keys, J.E., 1968. Nutritional studies using the meadow vole (Microtus pennsylvanicus). J. Anim. Sci., 27: 34.
Manda, T. and Takano, N., 1976. Growth response of golden hamster to diets having different levels of forages. J. Grassl. Sci., 22: 46–51.
Manda, T. and Goto, N., 1976. Comparative studies on forage digestibility in hamster and meadow vole (in Japanese). Nippon Sochi Gakkaishi 22: 52–57.
Matsumoto, T., 1955. Nutritive value of urea as a substitute for feed protein. I. Utilization of urea by the golden hamster. Tohoku J. Agr. Res., 6: 127–131.
Moir, R.J., 1964. Physiology of digestion in the ruminant. Butterworth Inc. Washington D.C.: 1–14.
Nikodemusz, E., 1975. The method of intragastric administration of fluids to field voles (Microtus arvalis Pallas). Z. Versuchstierkd, 17: 1–3.
Raush, R.L. and Rausch, V.R., 1968. On the biology and systematic position ofMicrotus abbreviatus Miller, a vole endemic to the St. Matthew Islands, Bering Sea. Z. Saugetierkd., 33: 65–99.
Richmond, M. and Conaway, C.H., 1969. Management, breeding, a reproductive performance of the vole,Microtus ochrogaster, in a laboratory colony. Lab. Anim. Care, 19: 80–87.
Sakata, T. and Tamate, H., 1976. Light and electron microscopic observation of the forestomach mucosa in the golden hamster. Tohoku J. Agr. Res., 27: 26–39.
Shenk, J.S. and Elliot, F.C., 1968. Effects of energy-protein balance on growth in weanling meadow voles (Microtus pennsylvanicus). J. Anim. Sci., 27: 38.
Shenk, J.S. and Elliot, F.C., 1968. Maintenance and breeding program for a vole colony. J. Anim. Sci., 27: 39.
Shenk, J.S., Elliot, F.C. and Thomas, J. W., 1971. Meadow vole nutrition studies with alfalfa diets. J. Nutr., 101: 1367–1372.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Kudo, H., Oki, Y. Microtus species as new herbivorous laboratory animals: Reproduction; Bacterial flora and fermentation in the digestive tracts; And nutritional physiology. Vet Res Commun 8, 77–91 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02214700
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02214700