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ALAT Species-Specific Care and Experimental Models Questions and Answers Flashcards

7 cards from real ALAT practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

Read the first 7 ALAT Species-Specific Care and Experimental Models Questions and Answers flashcards as text

  1. Which of the following best describes the normal estrous cycle length in female rats?

    Answer: 4-5 days

    Female rats have a short estrous cycle of approximately 4-5 days, cycling through proestrus, estrus, metestrus, and diestrus.

  2. A rabbit is observed pressing its abdomen against the cage floor and grinding its teeth. These signs most likely indicate:

    Answer: GI pain or discomfort

    Teeth grinding (bruxism) and hunched posture with abdominal pressing are classic signs of gastrointestinal pain in rabbits.

  3. Which species is considered an obligate nasal breather and is particularly susceptible to upper respiratory infections that can quickly become life-threatening?

    Answer: Guinea pig

    Guinea pigs are obligate nasal breathers, making upper respiratory infections especially dangerous as they cannot compensate by breathing through their mouths.

  4. In a xenograft tumor model, which type of mouse is most commonly used as the host?

    Answer: Athymic nude mice or SCID mice

    Xenograft models require immunodeficient hosts such as athymic nude or SCID mice so that human tumor cells are not rejected.

  5. What is the primary reason gerbils are used in cerebral ischemia research?

    Answer: They lack a complete Circle of Willis, making unilateral carotid ligation effective

    Gerbils naturally lack posterior communicating arteries completing the Circle of Willis, so ligating one carotid artery reliably produces unilateral brain ischemia.

  6. A technician notices that a group of newly received hamsters are sleeping in a pile and feel cold to the touch despite a room temperature of 65°F (18°C). The most likely explanation is:

    Answer: They have entered torpor due to low ambient temperature

    Hamsters can enter torpor (a hibernation-like state) when ambient temperatures drop below approximately 65°F (18°C), reducing their body temperature and metabolic rate.

  7. Which of the following is a key anatomical difference between cats and most other laboratory animal species that affects drug dosing and metabolism?

    Answer: Cats are deficient in glucuronyl transferase and cannot glucuronidate many compounds

    Cats have a deficiency in hepatic glucuronyl transferase, making them unable to efficiently glucuronidate many drugs, leading to toxicity at doses safe for other species.