Octodon degus (Molina 1782): A Model in Comparative Biology and Biomedicine
- Alvaro O. Ardiles1,
- John Ewer1,
- Monica L. Acosta2,
- Alfredo Kirkwood3,
- Agustin D. Martinez1,
- Luis A. Ebensperger4,
- Francisco Bozinovic4,
- Theresa M. Lee5 and
- Adrian G. Palacios1,6
- 1Centro Interdisciplinario de Neurociencia de Valparaíso, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Valparaíso, 2360102 Valparaíso, Chile;
- 2Department of Optometry and Vision Science, University of Auckland, Auckland 1142, New Zealand;
- 3Mind/Brain Institute and Department of Neurosciences, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21218;
- 4Departamento de Ecología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago 6513677, Chile;
- 5Department of Psychology and Neuroscience Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109
Abstract
One major goal of integrative and comparative biology is to understand and explain the interaction between the performance and behavior of animals in their natural environment. The Caviomorph, Octodon degu, is a native rodent species from Chile, and represents a unique model to study physiological and behavioral traits, including cognitive and sensory abilities. Degus live in colonies and have a well-structured social organization, with a mostly diurnal–crepuscular circadian activity pattern. More notable is the fact that in captivity, they reproduce and live between 5 and 7 yr and show hallmarks of neurodegenerative diseases (including Alzheimer's disease), diabetes, and cancer.
Footnotes
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↵6 Correspondence: adrian.palacios{at}uv.cl
- © 2013 Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press
