We examined the ability of learning and its retention employing test with the water T-maze, shuttle box and passive avoidance response (PAR) in offspring from mother rats treated with N-methylnitrosourea (MNU) or clorpromazine (CPZ) . The offspring of MNU-induced learning impairments were detected only in tests with the water T-maze and PAR. On the other hand, CPZ induced impairments were detectable only in tests with the shuttle box and PAR. Thus offspring from mother rats treated with MNU or CPZ showed partially different responses. In retention tests, both MNU and CPZ caused impaired ability in the water T-maze and PAR. In the PAR test, impairment was most clearly detectable. From these results, the PAR test appears to be the most useful method in detection of impairments in learning and retention ability, especially the latter, in the reproduction test of offspring.

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Automatic blood cell analyzer“MICROX”was examined for possible applicability to the differential count of white blood cell in the rabbit, rat and mouse. Spun blood smear slides prepared from 37 rabbits were treated with Wright-Giemsa stain, and those from 49 rats and 46 mice were stained with Wright's dye. Totals of 4272 white blood cells of rabbit, 5484 cells of rat and 5329 cells of mouse were counted, respectively. The identification rate of MICROX was checked by the cell-by-cell counting method. Analysis of the data was made to examine correlationship between the results with a MICROX and those of visual counting by optical microscopy on the same slides. 1) Corrected identification rates were 98.0%, 98.2% and 97.8% respectively in rabbits, rats and mice. 2) A high degree of correlation was observed between the results by MICROX and by optical microscopy in respect of segmented neutrophils and lymphocytes. 3) There were an average of 13.2 cells counted as unknown cells in rabbit blood, 10.5 in rat blood and 13.6 in mouse blood per 100 cells, respectively. Of the unknown cells about 30 to 40% were closely disposed leukocytes within the same counting squares. Almost all of atypical lymphocytes and erythroblasts were also counted as unknown cells on the analyzer. The data support the feasibility of the use of MICROX for the differential count of white blood cells of normal rabbits, rats and mice as well as monkeys and dogs.

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A mutant strain, Nagase analbuminemia rats (NAR), was established from Sprague-Dawley rats. Age-related changes in plasma proteins of NAR were investigated to obtain information of their abnormalities of protein metabolism. The total protein concentration in the serum of NAR of various ages was almost the same as that of normal rats of the same age. The albumin level of NAR was less than 0.05mg/ml at all ages examined. The concentrations of serum α₁antitrypsin, α-X protein, α₂-macroglobulin, transferrin, ceruloplasmin, IgG, IgA and IgM were higher in NAR than in normal rats except for the perinatal stage, but α₁-acid glycoprotein level in NAR was normal. The serum transferrin and ceruloplasmin levels were especially high in female adult NAR. The plasma fibrinogen concentration was also increased in NAR. These findings indicate that the normal total serum protein level of NAR was maintained by increase in the globulin concentration.

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Prevalence of protozoan and helminth parasites in adult cats for experimental use obtained from Kanto area, Japan during the period of 1973-74 (91 cats) and 1980-81 (80 cats) was investigated by means of autopsy, fecal examination and serological tests. No protozoa were found in blood smear specimens. The rate of positive Toxoplasma antibody tests was 65.4% (hemagglutination test) in 1973 -74 and 26.3% (latex agglutination test) in 1980-81. Oocysts of coccidia found in feces were Isospora felis and I. rivolta. In the intestine of 63.7% (1980-81) and 69.2% (1973-74) of the cats, one or more species of helminth parasites were found. The helminth parasites found in the intestine were Toxocara cati, Ancylostoma tubaeforme, Taenia taeniaef ormis, Di pylidium caninum, Spirometra erinacei and Pharyngostomum cordatum. Physaloptera sp., Dirofilaria immitis, Clonorchis sinensis and Capillaria plica were found in the stomach, heart, bile duct and urinary bladder, respectively. Differences between the results in 1973-74 and that in 1980-81 were discussed.

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An inbred strain maintained at Nagoya University, Laboratory of Animal Genetics, produced high incidence of imperforate vagina as 12.21% of occurrence in females, herein designated as Imv strain. Selected females with imperforate vagina in this strain were surgically repaired and subsequently mated with their littermates. These matings produced a 12.76% incidence of imperforate vagina. A detailed description of the surgical technique is herein reported.

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A spontaneous tumor was found in the left adrenal gland of a 35-day-old male Wistar rat. Histologically, the tumor consisted of various tissues derived from all three embryonic germ layers, i. e. the ectoderm (nervous tissue and skin), mesoderm (striated muscle, bone and cartilage), and endoderm (glandular tissue) . The tumor also contained loosely or compactly arranged embryonic connective tissues. From these findings, the tumor was diagnosed as teratoma. This appears to be the first description of teratoma in the adrenal gland of the rat.

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