MINORITY HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT RESEARCH APPRENTICE PROGRAM

土拨鼠（土拨鼠），土拨鼠monax，容易受到 病毒性肝炎，因此是唯一适合研究这一点， 疾病及其与发展的明显关系 肝细胞癌 然而，土拨鼠在 生物医学研究受到以下困难的严重限制： 人工饲养这些动物， 在这个高度季节性繁殖的物种中的生殖功能。 拟议的研究旨在制定程序， 大量土拨鼠的日常生产， 大量常规生产的实验室程序 在实验室条件下的土拨鼠。 将确定 土拨鼠是自发还是诱导排卵， 每天测量荷尔蒙水平， 腹腔镜检查，以监测隔离和交配的女性。 将制定方案，用于在休药期间诱导生育 这些治疗的季节和有效性将进一步 在正常条件下无法繁殖的动物身上进行测试， 时间 使用视频监控和无线电遥测， 在实验室里不受干扰的土拨鼠之间的相互作用， 在室内/室外狗舍和半自然条件下， 将表征大的室外外壳。 要素 与成功或失败相关或预测成功或失败的行为互动 在实验室条件下的繁殖将被定义。 在 总之，我们将荷尔蒙变化，生殖 行为和卵巢/睾丸功能，成功或失败 怀孕的过程 这项研究的一个直接目标是增加 土拨鼠的自然概念（和招聘）下 实验室条件和生产“淡季”的垃圾， 激素诱导生育。 这些项目的最终目标 研究是允许常规使用实验室饲养的土拨鼠， 生物医学研究

Woodchucks (ground hogs), Marmota monax, are susceptible to viral hepatitis and thus are uniquely suitable for study of this disease and its apparent relationship to the development of hepatocellular carcinoma. However, usefulness of woodchucks in biomedical research is severely limited by the difficulty of breeding these animals in captivity and limited information about reproductive functions in this highly seasonal breeding species. The proposed studies are aimed at developing procedures for routine production of a large number of woodchucks under laboratory procedures for routine production of a large number of woodchucks under laboratory conditions. It will be determined whether woodchucks are spontaneous or induced ovulators by using daily measurements of hormone levels and serial laparoscopic examinations to monitor isolated and mated females. Protocols will be developed for induction of fertility during off season and effectiveness of these treatments will be further tested in animals that fail to breed in captivity at the normal time. Using video-monitoring and radio-telemetry, behavioral interactions of undisturbed woodchucks housed in the laboratory, in indoor/outdoor kennels and under semi-natural conditions in large outdoor enclosures will be characterized. Elements of behavioral interactions that relate to or predict success or failure of reproduction under laboratory conditions will be defined. In summary, we will correlate hormonal changes, reproductive behavior, and ovarian/testicular function with success or failure of conception. An immediate goal of the study is to increase natural conception (and recruitment) of woodchucks under laboratory conditions and to produce "off-season" litters by hormonal induction of fertility. The ultimate goal of these studies is to permit routine use of laboratory-bred woodchucks in biomedical research.