Removal of Harderian exudates by sandbathing contributes to osmotic balance in Mongolian gerbils.

Whittow [18] has inquired whether any animal can limit insensible perspiration through the integument. Sandbathing by the Mongolian gerbil may be a behavioral mechanism to such effect. Ordinarily, Harderian exudates from the external nares of the nose are spread over the pelage by autogrooming and are removed by sandbathing. Several experiments were designed to explore the hypothesis that removal of Harderian materials from the pelage by sandbathing aids osmoregulation through lowering rate of insensible perspiration. An initial experiment showed body weight losses during water deprivation were greater in intact than in Harderianectomized (Hx) gerbils when neither group could sandbathe, but were equivalent when sandbathing was allowed. Subsequent work indicated that variation in relative humidity was associated with magnitude of the difference in weight loss during water deprivation between intact and Hx gerbils, while change in the ambient temperature was not. Checks on these findings showed (1) that nonthirsty intact and Hx gerbils do not differ in amount of internal water and (2) that grooming water losses probably are equivalent in intact and Hx gerbils.

Ultrasonic facilitation of escape responding and disruption of anal body temperature in the golden hamster.

The purpose of the study was to investigate the effect of ultrasonic pure tone on Mesocricetus auratus, a Murine rodent that does not organize rigidly into colonies as do some cricetid rodents. Subjects were 4 male and 4 female adult golden hamsters. All animals were trained to bar-press in a modified operant chamber to escape 24-v D.C. footshock. An experimental group was exposed to a 30-kHz tone at 60 dB during testing in the operant chamber with footshock absent. Similar testing trials were also given to assess the effect of ultrasonic sound on anal body temperature. It was noted that the experimental group demonstrated both behavioral arousal by bar-pressing significantly more often than controls (F = 6.95, df = 1/6, p greater than .05) and physiological arousal by increased body temperature (F = 6.88, df = 1/6, p greater than .05).