The great gerbil as an experimental model in biomedical research

Gerbils have been used as an object of biomedical research since the mid-20th century. These animals are easy to handle and care for, and their anatomy and physiology, with a few exceptions, are similar to those of other rodents most widely used in scientific researches: rats and mice. Due to a number of physiological and anatomical features, the gerbils can reproduce pathophysiological conditions that are difficult (or impossible) to model in rats and mice. The aim of this study was to evaluate the anxiety level and exploratory activity of female great gerbils (Rhombomys opimus) after a vital stress in the “Open field” test of the Multi Conditioning TSE 2.0 system. Materials and methods. For this study, 50 female great gerbils were captured using live traps in the Central Karakum Desert 6 months prior to the experiments. During the 6-month adaptation period of the gerbils to laboratory conditions, 5 of them died for various reasons. The animals were divided into 4 groups of 10 rodents each. Ten intact great gerbils, not subjected to the stress, served as controls. The average weight of the great gerbils was 115.0 ± 7.3 g. The animals were kept under standard vivarium conditions in the accordance with rules for the care and maintenance of laboratory rodents outlined in the book “Guide to the Care and Maintenance of Laboratory Animals” (Eurasian Council for Standardization, Metrology and Certification, Minsk, 2014). Results. Analysis of behavioral data in the “Open field” test showed that the orientation-exploratory response, expressed as the number of stance and horizontal motor activity, the stability of neural processes reflected in the number of reverse turns, the time spent visiting the central brightly lit squares, the vegetative and emotional response determined by the time of grooming in the experimental animals under stress, are significantly reduced, which reflects the natural restructuring of the activity level of brain processes under the stress. Conclusion. The exploratory behavior and the anxiety level of the great gerbils in the “Open field” test to various stimuli causes stress, which may impact cognitive functions of animals.

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