Gray mouse lemurs (Microcebus murinus): A novel animal model in research
Alice S.O. Hong¹, Jozeph L. Pendleton², Caitlin J. Karanewsky², Mark A. Krasnow², Megan A. Albertelli¹ ¹Department of Comparative Medicine, ²Department of Biochemistry and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA
What are mouse lemurs? In the WILD In CAPTIVITY
• Mouse lemurs (Microcebus spp.) A wild mouse lemur in its natural • Follow the Guide for the Care and contain the smallest primates in environment in Madagascar. Use of Laboratory Animals and the world Animal Welfare Act • Prosimians (primates of the • Temperature condition: 74-80ºF Strepsirrhine group) • Humidity condition: 44-65% • Gray mouse lemur (Microcebus (dependent on season) murinus) is 80-100 grams in body weight. • Food: fruit, vegetables, primate biscuits, meal worms • ~24 species in genus • Caging: Marmoset housing cages • Cryptic species (similar (Britz & Company) morphology but different o genetics) Single housing o Group housing • Native to Madagascar in west and A captive mouse lemur resting on perch in south coast regions • Enrichment provided: its cage at Stanford University. • Hot and tropical climate o Sanded down PVC pipes Research Uses • Arboreal (live in trees) o External and cardboard nest boxes • Research in animal’s biological • Live in various environments: and physiological characteristics o Fleece blankets o Dry deciduous trees o Reproductive biology o Rain forests o Torpor, food restriction o Spiny deserts o Manipulation of photoperiod o Thornbushes o Sex differences with behavior • Eat fruits, flowers, invertebrates, o Metabolism small vertebrates, gum/sap A captive gray mouse lemur resting on a o Genetic variation researcher’s hand at Stanford University. Why mouse lemurs? • Research in translational Characteristics applications • Compared with mice: o Aging studies • Nocturnal (active at night) o Longer lifespan o Age-related neurodegenerative • Omnivorous o More closely related to diseases (ex: Alzheimer’s • Solitary foragers (search for humans disease) food resources alone) • Compared with monkeys: o Genetics • Seasonal breeders o Smaller body size Acknowledgments • Influenced by photoperiod o Shorter gestation Thanks to VSC animal care staff for helping o Longer daylight hours in o More offspring with the colony establishment and care at Stanford University. This work is supported by summer = breeding (Above) Mouse lemur in external nest box o Shorter sexual maturity the Department of Comparative Medicine, (left) and cardboard nest box (right). (Bottom) o Shorter daylight hours in MLAS program, the Vera Moulton Wall Center Mouse lemur next to food bowl on the ground for Pulmonary Vascular Disease, and HHMI. winter = torpor of its cage.