Disease relevance of Mephitidae

• A Sarcocystis neurona-like organism was associated with granulomatous encephalitis in an ataxic male juvenile striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis) from Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Various stages of schizonts and merozoites of S. neurona were seen within some of the granulomata [1].
• Striped skunks (Mephitis mephitis) were inoculated with street rabies virus and immunosuppressed with several doses of cyclophosphamide [2].

Psychiatry related information on Mephitidae

• Ovulatory pattern, development of the corpus luteum (CL), and early tubal transport are described for 6 unmated and 19 mated striped skunks (mephitis mephitis) killed after known copulation times [3].

High impact information on Mephitidae

• Changes in uterine expression of leukemia inhibitory factor receptor gene during pregnancy and its up-regulation by prolactin in the western spotted skunk [4].
• Increased production of LIF is positively correlated with termination of embryonic diapause and preparation for implantation in the spotted skunk [4].
• We therefore used Northern and in situ hybridization to investigate changes in uterine expression of Cox1 and Cox2 genes during various stages of pregnancy in the spotted skunk [5].
• Changes in uterine expression of leukemia inhibitory factor during pregnancy in the Western spotted skunk [6].
• Changes in uterine estrogen and progesterone receptors during delayed implantation and early implantation in the spotted skunk [7].

Biological context of Mephitidae

• The present study was undertaken to obtain an estrogen profile throughout gestation in the western spotted skunk with special emphasis on relating changes in estrogen levels to blastocyst development [8].
• Ultrastructural changes in granulosa lutein cells and progesterone levels during preimplantation, implatation, and early placentation in the western spotted skunk [9].

Anatomical context of Mephitidae

• Expression of epidermal growth factor receptor in the preimplantation uterus and blastocyst of the western spotted skunk [10].
• Prolactin levels in the western spotted skunk: changes during pre- and periimplantation and effects of melatonin and lesions to the anterior hypothalamus [11].
• Steroid metabolism in corpora lutea of the western spotted skunk (Spilogale putorius latifrons) [12].
• Morphological changes in the trophoblast, uterus and corpus luteum during delayed implantation and implantation in the western spotted skunk [13].

Associations of Mephitidae with chemical compounds

• Plasma estrogen levels during pregnancy in the western spotted skunk [8].
• Role of prolactin and luteinizing hormone in regulating timing of implantation in the spotted skunk [14].
• Sera from 24 striped skunks, 12 raccoons, and 7 opossums (D. virginiana) from Connecticut were examined for agglutinating antibodies to S. neurona using the S. neurona agglutination test (SAT) employing formalin-fixed merozoites as antigen [15].
• This secretion is similar to that of the striped skunk, Mephitis mephitis, differing only in that it contains four compounds not reported from the striped skunk: phenylmethanethiol, S-phenylmethyl thioacetate, 2-phenylethanethiol, and S-2-phenylethyl thioacetate [16].
• We immobilized 21 pygmy spotted skunks (Spilogale pygmaea), in the tropical deciduous forest at the Chamela Biological Station (Mexico) from October 1994 to May 1997, with a mixture of ketamine (KH) and xylazine (XH) [17].

Gene context of Mephitidae

• Spatiotemporal expression of cyclooxygenase 1 and cyclooxygenase 2 during delayed implantation and the periimplantation period in the Western spotted skunk [5].
• This led us to hypothesize that embryonic diapause in the spotted skunk is due to insufficient uterine expression of LIF whereas resumption of development and implantation are associated with increased LIF expression [6].
• Presence of an inhibitor of plasminogen activator in uterine fluid of the western spotted skunk during delayed implantation [18].
• Two privately owned domestic skunks (Mephitis mephitis) developed clinical signs of hyperparathyroidism [19].
• Rabies virus from the brain of a striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis) from Ontario was inoculated into murine neuroblastoma (NA-C1300) cell cultures [20].

References