Anatomy
The gross anatomy of the gerbil is similar to that of other rodents, except that they have well-developed hind limbs that facilitate their saltatorial gait. Unlike other laboratory rodents, their tails are nonglabrous.
Females have 4 nipples (1 pair thoracic and 1 pair abdominal), and nipples are not apparent in males. Gerbils are utilized in stroke research because of their susceptibility to cerebral ischemia following common carotid artery ligation. This is because gerbils often have an incomplete circle of Willis, which is of minimal practical significance relative to spontaneous disease. Incisor teeth grow continuously (elodont), but molar teeth are rooted. Lung lobation is similar to that of mice and rats, and like mice and rats, they have no intrapulmonary bronchi. Mongolian gerbils have a prominent scent gland on the midline of the ventral abdomen composed of sebaceous glands and specialized hair structures. It is inconspicuous in females, but is prominent in sexually mature males. Gerbils do not have preputial glands. Auditory bullae are distinctively large, reflecting their highly adapted specialization for acute hearing. Microscopic adaptations in ear structure are also evident. The thymus persists into adulthood. The adrenal glands of the gerbil are quite large relative to other species of laboratory rodents. The uterus is bicornuate, and placentation is hemotrichorial. Intravascular dissemination of placental trophoblasts may be present in pregnant gerbils, as in hamsters. Renal function is adapted for urine concentration. The kidney has a very long papilla, and the ratio of papilla plus inner medulla to cortex is about twice that of a laboratory rat. This is a reflection of very long loops of Henle. Some Bowman's capsules in sexually mature male gerbils can be thickened due to the presence of cells that are morphologically intermediate between fibroblasts and smooth muscle cells (myofibroblasts). This lamina muscularis is unique to Meriones (Fig. 4.1).
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