One of the five possible mechanisms of leptin resistance in human obesity is the defect in the leptin receptor (Ob-R). Evidence has accumulated that leptin-binding activity in human serum is related to a soluble form of the leptin receptor, and restriction of energy intake resulted a decrease in circulating leptin levels. Aim of this study is to examine the difference of serum soluble leptin re...

Of 200 individual Xenopsylla cheopis fleas removed from Rattus norvegicus rats trapped in downtown Los Angeles, CA, 190 (95%) were positive for the presence of Bartonella DNA. Ninety-one amplicons were sequenced: Bartonella rochalimae-like DNA was detected in 66 examined fleas, and Bartonella tribocorum-like DNA was identified in 25 fleas. The data obtained from this study demonstrate an extrem...

Proteins (18-20 kDa) belonging to lipocalin family have been reported to act as carriers for ligands binding to pheromones in mouse urine, pig saliva, hamster vaginal fluid and human sweat, that are involved in pheromonal communication. As the preputial gland is a major pheromonal source, the present study was aimed to detect the specific protein bands (around 18-20 kDa) in the preputial and cl...

The ultrastructure of the parathyroid glands of Rattus rattus was investigated. In the chief cells, the nucleus showed deep indentations, and lysosomal inclusions and rod-shaped crystalloids were present. Their ultrastructure is described, and the role of the lysosomal inclusions is discussed.

Four bats and three rodents species were reported from Farasan Island. Triaenops persicus Dobson, 1871 is for the first time Saudi Arabia based on echolocation calls. The presence of Pipistrellus kuhlii (Kuhl, 1817), Asellia patrizii De Beaux, 1931, Rattus rattus (Linnaeus, 1758), Gerbillus nanus Blanford, 1875 are confirmed.

Hurricanes cause dramatic changes to forests by opening the canopy and depositing debris onto forest floor. How invasive rodent populations respond hurricanes is not well understood, but shifts in abundance foraging may result from scarce fruit seed resources that follow hurricanes. We conducted studies a wet tropical Puerto Rico better understand how experimental (canopy trimming experiment) n...

THE COMMON RAT of Polynesia is Rattus exulans (Peale). It appears to be closely related to, and ptobably derived from Rattus concolor of the Malay region. The concolor group, and its derivatives, occur all over the Pacific, being represented in the Oceanic islands by R. exulans, R. micronesiensis and R. hawaiiensis. Other species have been erected for the Polynesian forms, but it may be simpler...