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Biomedical subjects

A E Harriman

Publications and source records attributed to A E Harriman.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1990

Solution acceptance by common ravens (Corvus corax) given two-bottle preference tests.

Two-bottle tests of solution acceptance were conducted in an outdoor aviary with eight common ravens (Corvus corax). Aqueous concentrations of the following chemicals were used: five common sugars, three salts, two acids, quinine hydrochloride, and sodium saccharin. Solution acceptance, as recorded for the different ravens on each test, was the percentage of preference shown for a test solution over water (comparison solution). Mid-range saccharin concentrations (0.10% to 0.80% [w/w]) were preferred over water in the tests. The preference for saccharin contrasts with all other reports on avian response to the chemical in two-bottle tests. Nonetheless, the ravens nonpreferentially accepted lower concentrations or were averse at higher concentrations to drinking sugar solutions. Similar, though more sharply marked, shifts from indifference to aversion were noted in tests with the other chemicals. The possible relevance of these latter findings to the food habits of ravens is discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Dietary pyridoxine loadings affect incidence of "spontaneous" seizures among magnesium-deprived Mongolian gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus).

The "spontaneous" tetanic attacks in magnesium (Mg) deficiency resemble those occurring in pyridoxine (Pyr) deficiency. A common mechanism may underlie both seizure patterns. Nine groups (n = 10) of male Mongolian gerbils that were Mg-deprived, Pyr-deprived, or both were used to explore this possibility. The animals were tested for spontaneous seizing in an open field at four-day intervals over 40 days. By the end of the period, 70% of the gerbils that were both Mg- and Pyr-deprived had seized, and 90% had died. One fatality, but no seizures, occurred among Pyr-deprived groups given 500 to 2,000 ppm Mg in the food. No seizures occurred among the Mg-deprived groups fed 20 to 100 ppm Pyr, though several animals given 20 ppm Pyr died. Deaths and seizures occurred within Mg-deprived groups fed more than 100 ppm Pyr. A possible role of Pyr in Mg metabolism is discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Olfactory acuity in the common raven (Corvus corax).

The efficacy with which ravens can locate concealed carrion and similar foods has been noted from antiquity. This ability has been claimed in folklore to indicate an acute sense of smell. Contemporary opinion among ornithologists is that the sense of smell is weak at best in passerines, and particularly so in corvids which lack developed olfactory apparatus. Four studies were performed to test whether ravens could find hidden food (fresh ground fish) under conditions where scent was presumed to be the sole cue. The subjects, captive juvenile ravens (five males and three females) capably chose which one in a pair of containers held food buried under 2.0 cm of No. 4 gravel, discovered food concealed under as much as 2.5 cm of gravel, and located as little as 1.0 g of food covered by 1.5 cm of gravel. The several findings are consistent with the possibility that ravens can use olfactory cues to find food.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Harderian gland exudates in the male Meriones unguiculatus regulate female proceptive behavior, aggression, and investigation.

Harderian gland secretions exit from the nose of Meriones unguiculatus during an autogroom (Thiessen, 1977). The exudates act as an attractant pheromone and as a thermoregulatory barrier when spread throughout the pelage. A recent study demonstrated that Harderian exudates in the male guide proceptive behavior in the female (Harriman & Thiessen, 1985). The present study replicated this finding by showing that estrous females direct fewer proceptive acts toward males lacking Harderian glands. In addition, it was found that females are more defensively aggressive toward Harderianectomized males and prefer to spend more time in the vicinity of intact males. It is speculated that Harderian spread allows the female to assess the reproductive competence of the male.

Aggression↗
PubMed1985

Harderian letdown in male mongolian gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus) contributes to proceptive behavior.

Adult female gerbils in estrus, like other female rodents, tend to engage in proceptive displays toward conspecific males. The displays, which may be interspersed with the more usual female agonistic activity, if the males are strangers, are preceded by female olfactory investigation of those head areas in the male gerbil where Harderian letdown accumulates most densely. This study explored the possibility that the male Harderian glands are a source of olfactory signals which promote proceptive behavior but suppress female agonistic behavior. Female gerbils in estrus were found to display significantly less than normal rates of proceptive behavior toward Harderianectomized males. The proceptive activity which was observed appeared to be slowed, but the typical pattern was retained. Female aggression, however, was not affected by their estrous condition or by the Harderian state of the males. Possibly Harderian letdown in male gerbils may inform females as to the reproductive competence of the males.

Agonistic Behavior↗
PubMed1983

Removal of Harderian exudates by sandbathing contributes to osmotic balance in Mongolian gerbils.

Whittow [18] has inquired whether any animal can limit insensible perspiration through the integument. Sandbathing by the Mongolian gerbil may be a behavioral mechanism to such effect. Ordinarily, Harderian exudates from the external nares of the nose are spread over the pelage by autogrooming and are removed by sandbathing. Several experiments were designed to explore the hypothesis that removal of Harderian materials from the pelage by sandbathing aids osmoregulation through lowering rate of insensible perspiration. An initial experiment showed body weight losses during water deprivation were greater in intact than in Harderianectomized (Hx) gerbils when neither group could sandbathe, but were equivalent when sandbathing was allowed. Subsequent work indicated that variation in relative humidity was associated with magnitude of the difference in weight loss during water deprivation between intact and Hx gerbils, while change in the ambient temperature was not. Checks on these findings showed (1) that nonthirsty intact and Hx gerbils do not differ in amount of internal water and (2) that grooming water losses probably are equivalent in intact and Hx gerbils.

Ammotherapy↗
PubMed1982

On why Wayne Dennis found Hopi infants retarded in age at onset of walking.

Dennis (1940) found Hopi infants were slower in onset of walking whether or not the cradleboard was used, than infants from other socioethnic groups. This investigation supplemented a repetition of the interview procedure used by Dennis with questions concerning circumstances of Hopi life infants, who were discovered to begin walking at a mean age of 12.5 mo., were advanced by 2.5 mo. over the date of walking recorded by Dennis. Infants reared on the cradleboard, like those studied by Dennis, walked as early as unrestrained infants. Differences in genetic background, physical health, and nutritional status between the earlier time and the present day which could account for the delayed onset of walking noted by Dennis were evaluated. Former inadequacy of the infants' diet seemed to be the most significant of the possible underlying conditions. The accelerated date of walking at present may reflect the enhanced quality of Hopi infant nutrition brought about by external programs for food supplement, particularly the Indian Women, Infants and Children's program.

Arizona↗
PubMed1980

Preferences by egyptian spiny mice for solutions of sugars, salts, and acids in Richter-type drinking tests.

Egyptian spiny mice (Acomys cabirinus) were tested for drinking preferences by means of Richter-type tests (sapid solution versus distilled water). The subjects were 7 male and 7 female adults which were individually housed within an environmental chamber. Solutions used in the tests were concentrations of 5 common sugars (.005 M to 1.0 M), 3 salts (.005 M to 1.0 M), and 2 acids (4.0 pH to 1.5 pH). The molar range was too limited to identify the most preferred concentrations of fructose and glucose, but preferences for lactose, maltose, and sucrose appeared to occur at peak levels within the range. None of the salts (Kcl, MgSO4, and NaCl) was preferred over water in any of the tests, and both acids, the organic more than the inorganic, were rejected in all tests. The findings were contrasted with results from Richter-type tests conducted with other species of rodents.

Animals↗
PubMed1978

Preferences by deer mice for solutions of sugars, salts, and acids in Richter-type drinking tests.

Deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus) were tested for taste preferences in 48-hour, Richter-type drinking tests (sapid solution versus distilled water). The Ss, which were seven male and seven female wild adults, were individually housed within an environmental chamber. Test solutions were concentrations of five sugars and three salts (.005 M to 1.0 M) and of two acids (4.0 pH to 1.5 pH). The molar range was too limited to identify the most preferred concentration of glucose, but peak preferences for the other common sugars fell within the range. Preference was shown for hypotonic NaCl concentrations, but other salts and both acids were nonpreferred in all tests. Comparisons were made between these findings and results from Richter-type tests with other murine rodents.

Acids↗
PubMed1978

"Spontaneous" seizing in open-field tests by mongolian gerbils fed magnesium at different rates.

Accounts of so-called "spontaneous" seizures by individual Mongolian gerbils during open-field tests resemble descriptions of magnesium tetany. A possible association between relative magnesium deficiency and tendency toward "spontaneous" seizures was explored through feeding groups of gerbils different rates of magnesium and subjecting the groups to open-field tests at intervals. Hypomagnesemia was related in degree of severity to length of survival, onset of seizing, and frequency of seizures.

Animals↗
PubMed1977

Ultrasonic facilitation of escape responding and disruption of anal body temperature in the golden hamster.

The purpose of the study was to investigate the effect of ultrasonic pure tone on Mesocricetus auratus, a Murine rodent that does not organize rigidly into colonies as do some cricetid rodents. Subjects were 4 male and 4 female adult golden hamsters. All animals were trained to bar-press in a modified operant chamber to escape 24-v D.C. footshock. An experimental group was exposed to a 30-kHz tone at 60 dB during testing in the operant chamber with footshock absent. Similar testing trials were also given to assess the effect of ultrasonic sound on anal body temperature. It was noted that the experimental group demonstrated both behavioral arousal by bar-pressing significantly more often than controls (F = 6.95, df = 1/6, p greater than .05) and physiological arousal by increased body temperature (F = 6.88, df = 1/6, p greater than .05).

Acoustic Stimulation↗
PubMed1977

Taste preferences in the cotton rat (Sigmodon hispidus).

This study focused on taste preferences in hispid cotton rats (Sigmodon hispidus) as measured by 2-bottle, 48-hr. drinking tests. In a series of continuous tests, fluid intakes were recorded for 5 sugar solutions (fructose, glucose, sucrose, maltose and lactose), 3 salt solutions (KCl, MgSO4 and NaCl), and 2 acid solutions. In as attempt to supplement incomplete and divergent comparative data on rodent's taste preferences, this study investigated sugar and salt preferences at five concentrations (.005, .05, .10, .50, and 1.0 M) and acid preferences at six concentrations (4.0, 2.3, 2.0, 1.8, 1.6, and 1.5 pH). Significant differences in concentration in intake of all salts, acids, and sugars were noted. Significant sex differences were observed for intakes of sucrose and NaCl at several concentrations. All sugars were preferred maximally at .10 M. The salts NaCl and KCl were preferred maximally at .005 M and MgSO4 was preferred maximally at .05 M. The role of the sugars used in the experiment was discussed in terms of incentive values and possible reinforcers for later experiments.

Acids↗
PubMed1976

Preferences by northern grasshopper mice for solutions of sugars, acids, and salts in Richter-type drinking tests.

Taste preferences, as measured in 48-hour, Richter-type drinking tests (test solution opposite distilled water), were determined for northern grasshopper mice (Onychomys leucogaster, ssp. breviauritus). The Ss were nine males and nine females which were individually housed within an environmental chamber. The test solutions were prepared from five sugars (fructose, glucose, lactose, maltose, sucrose) three salts (magnesium sulfate, potassium chloride, sodium chloride), and two acids (citric acid and hydrochloric acid). In randomly assigned order, each sugar and each salt solution was presented at five molar concentrations, and each acid was paired with distilled water at six levels of pH. Strong drinking preferences were shown for all concentrations of the sugars above .05-.10 M, and sugars ranked in order of preference as follows: Maltose = sucrose greater than glucose = fructose greater than lactose. Preferences were also shown for hypotonic concentrations of NaCl. The other salts and both acids, however, were indifferently preferred at low concentrations and were rejected at the higher concentrations. Taste preferences by grasshopper mice for these chemicals were similar to those exhibited by Monogolian gerbils tested with the same items. The similar patterns of preference shown by New World cricetid rodents (grasshopper mice) and Old World cricetid rodents (gerbils) suggest that conclusions concerning disparity in taste sensibilities among animal forms may be premature.

Acids↗
PubMed1976

Inadequate saline selection by Mongolian gerbils fed a cation exchange resin in the diet.

Mongolian gerbils (42 male, 42 female) were tested for presence of a special hunger for minerals. Three groups were fed a mineral-free mash which contained a cation exchange resin and chelator. Three additional groups received the same mash but with a nonnutritive fiber in place of the resin and chelator. For 15 days, one group in each dietary plan was given ad libitum choice between a mineral solution and distilled water (DW). A second group in each arrangement drank only DW, and the third received just the mineral solution. All gerbils fed the fiber, as well as the animals given only the mineral solution while fed the exchanger, survived the period and showed nil or mild weight losses. In contrast, the two groups given either fluid choice or DW alone while receiving the exchanger survived the period in 43 percent and 29 percent of the cases, respectively; and the survivors exhibited marked decrements in body weight.

Animals↗