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Scientific Literature on Hamsters

Syrian Hamster - Anatomy

Genotype

Diploid (2N) chromosome number: 44

Dentition

Dental Formula

  • 1 0 0 3
  • I- C- PM- M- = 16
  • 1 0 0 3

Incisors

  • Erupted at birth
  • Grow continuously
Molars
  • Erupted at birth
  • Cuspidate and do not continue to grow

Dental caries is induced easily by altering diet

Cheek pouches

Evaginations of the lateral buccal wall are devoid of glands and lymphatic drainage. These sites are priviledged for foreign tissue transplant due to this lack of lymph drainage.

Stomach

Two compartments:

  • Non-glandular: similar to ruminants, cardia region
  • Glandular: acid, pyloric region

The two compartments are joined by a narrow passageway with the oesophagus entering just proximal to the dividing stricture.

Sebaceous scent glands

Costovertebral area. Larger in male than female. Function controled by androgens. Thought to serve as olfactory ID marker.

Pulmonary System

Limited numbers of gland in upper airways. Left lung has a single lobe, right lung has 3 lobes (apical, middle, caudal)

Kidney

The renal papilla extends out into the ureter making it possible to collect urine from tubules in a living hamster

Mammary Glands

14-22 mammae

External Genitalia/Sexing

Males: greater urogenital distance and only one urogenital opening. Females: separate vaginal, urinary, and anal openings.

Syrian Hamster - Physiology and Behaviour

Neonatal Development
  • Teeth present at birth,eyes & ears closed, and pups are hairless.
  • Ears open at 4-5 days
  • Eyes open at 15 days
  • Eat solid food at 7-10 days
  • Weaned at 21-28 days

Adult weight
  • Male 85-140g
  • Female 95-120g

Life span

Average 2 years, maximum expected 3 years

Water consumption

Variable, can tolerate long periods without water, but should always have fresh water available by gravity bottle or supply of fresh fruit/vegetables

Food consumption

10-15g/day (adult), depends upon level of activity

Body temperature

36.2-37.5ºC (rectal)

Heart rate

280-412/min

Respiratory rate

74 (33-127) breaths/min

Haematology
  • RBC 7,500,000/mm
  • WBC 7,600/mm
  • Segmented Neutrophils 21.9%
  • Non-segmented Neutrophils 8.0%
  • Lymphocytes 73.5%
  • Monocytes 2.5%
  • Eosinophils 1.1%
  • Basophils 1.1%

Biochemistry

Your data here!

Reproduction and Mating
  • Puberty:
    • Male 6-8 weeks (90 g)
    • Female 6-8 weeks (90-100g)
  • Oestrous cycle 4 days. The stage of the cycle can be determined by the tenacity and opacity of vaginal discharge. The discharge is thick and opaque at the time of and after ovulation.
  • Oestrus 6-10 hours (night). Heat generally begins approximately 1-2 hours after dusk on the third day of the oestrous cycle and ovulation is completed 6-10 hours after onset of psychic oestrus. The female should be placed in the cage with the male at the beginning of the dark cycle. If the female is receptive she will quickly assume a lordotic position with hindlegs spread and tail erect. If copulation does not occur within 5 minutes or if the female becomes aggressive, she is removed. If copulation occurs, the pair can be left together until such time as the female shows no further interest in mating, or shows aggressive behaviour toward the male. Males (Syrian) should not be left with females for prolonged periods, as fighting and injury may occur.
  • Gestation 15-18 days. A copulation plug will be visible for a few hours after copulation.
  • Litter size 4-12 pups
  • Birth weight 2-3 g
  • Weaning 21 days (35-40g). Oestrous cycle will not resume for the mother until a few days after her young are weaned. Young from different litters can usually be housed together until 42 days of age.
  • Optimum breeding life: Females 14 months, Males up to 18 months, but fertility and chances of mating success decline after this.

Behaviour
  • Docile unless surprised or awakened
  • Nocturnal
  • Hibernate when temperature drops below 5ºC, however, animal may be roused by gentle stimulation and application of warmth. More...
  • Curious by nature

The following is a collection of papers in the scientific literature that relate to Hamster coat and colour genetics. Please use the contact page if you would like to add or make amendmends to this list.

Year

Author

Title

Reference

1998

Wada and Tsudzuki

Microphthalmia: a morphogenetic lethal mutation of the campbelli hamster (Phodopus campbelli)

J Hered 89(1)

1990

Robinson

Synergistic action of White Spotting Genes in the Syrian Hamster Rodentia, Cricetus

Genetica 82:135-137

1988

Robinson

Linkage of the Satin and Umbrous loci in the Syrian Hamster

J Hered 79(1):71

1988

Ralph & Menaker

A mutation of the Circadian System in Golden Hamsters

Science 241:1225-1227

1987

Robinson, Beechey and Searle

Brown and Rust mutants of the Syrian Hamster are p and b genes of mammalian coat colours

J Hered 78(2):128-129

1987

Henwood, Henwood & Robinson

Dominant Spotting in the Chinese Hamster

J Hered 78:280

1981

Yoon, DeGroot & Peterson

Five new mutations in the Syrian Hamster - Fur Loss, Fur-Deficiency, Juvenile Grey, Ashen and Quakin

J Hered 72: 445-446

1980

Yoon, DeGroot & Peterson

Linkage group V in the Syrian Hamster - Cardiomyopathy and Lethal Grey

J Hered 71: 287-288

1980

Yoon, DeGroot & Peterson

Linkage relationship of Cardiomyopathy in the Syrian Hamster

J Hered 71: 287-288

1979

Yoon & Peterson

Linkage group IV in the Syrian Hamster - Spontaneus Seizure and Jute

J Hered 70:279-280

1978

Robinson, Peterson and Yoon

Linkage group III in the Syrian Hamster - Linkage between White Band and Long Hair

J Hered 69:199

1977

Robinson

Umbrous - A dominant darkening gene in the Syrian Hamster

J Hered 68:328

1977

Nixon & Connelly

Pinto - a new coat patterning factor in Syrian Hamsters

J Hered 68:399-402

1977

Yoon & Peterson

Linkage group II in the Syrian Hamster - Linkage between Hydrocephalus and Cream coat colour

J Hered 68:418

1976

Yoon, Peterson & Corrow

Spontaneous Seizures - A new mutation in Syrian Golden Hamster

J Hered 67:115-116

1975

Peterson

Frost: A coat color mutation in the Syrian Golden Hamster

J Hered 66:102-102

1975

Peterson & Yoon

Jute: A new coat color mutation in the Syrian Hamster

J Hered 66:312

1975

Robinson

Linkage of White Band and Long Hair

J Hered 66:312

1974

Schimke, Nixon & Connelly

Long Hair Growth influenced by sex in the Syrian Hamster

J Hered 65: 57-58

1973

Robinson

Linkage of Albinism and Brown in the Syrian Hamster

J Hered 64: 232

1972

Yoon & Slaney

Hydrocephalus: A New Mutation in the Syrian Golden Hamster

J Hered 63:344-346

1972

Nixon

Hereditary Hairlessness in the Syrian Golden Hamster

J Hered 63:215-217

1972

Festing & Wright

New Semi-Dominant Mutation in the Syrian Hamster

Nature 236:81

1972

Robinson

Satin - A New Coat Mutant in the Syrian Hamster

J Hered 63:52

1970

Homburger

New Models of Human Disease in Syrian Hamsters

JAMA 212:604

1970

Nixon, Beaumont, Connelly

Gene Interaction of Coat Patterns and Colors in the Syrian Hamster

J Hered 61:221-228

1969

Nixon, Whitney & Connelly

Additional data on the Dominant Lethal Grey in Syrian Hamsters

J Hered 60:74

1969

Nixon, Whitney, Beaumont & Connelly

Dominant Spotting - A New Mutation in the Syrian Hamster

J Hered 60: 299-300

1968

Nixon, Whitney & Connelly

Hind-Leg Paralysis - A New Sex-Linked Mutation in the Syrian Hamster

J Hered 59:276-278

1967

Nixon & Connelly

Dark Grey and Lethal Grey - Two New Coat-Color Mutations in the Syrian Hamster

J Hered 58:295-296

1966

Robinson

Sex-Linked Yellow in the Syrian Hamster

Nature 212:824-825

1964

Robinson

Genetic Studies of the Syrian Hamster VI - Anophthalmic White

Genetica 35:241-250

1964

Whitney, Burns, Nixon

Rust, A New Mutation in Syrian Hamsters

Am Nat 98:121-122

1962

Hughes and Geeraets

Extreme Microphthalmia in the Syrian Hamster

Genetics

1962

Robinson

Anophthalmic White - A Mutant with Unusual Morphological and Pigmentary Properties in the Syrian Ham

Am Nat 96(XCVI):183-185

1962

Robinson

Genetic Studies of the Syrian Hamster V - White Band

Heredity 17:477-486

1962

Robinson

Genetic Studies of the Syrian Hamster IV - Brown Pigmentation

Genetica 33:81-87

1962

Homburger

New Hereditary Diseases of Syrian Hamsters

Arch Intern Med 110:660-662

1960

Robinson

Light Undercolour in the Syrian Hamster

J Hered 51:111-115

1960

Robinson

Occurrence of a Brown Mutation in the Syrian Hamster

Nature 187:170-171

1960

Robinson

White Band - A New Spotting Mutation in the Syrian Hamster

Nature 188:764-765

1959

Magalhaes

Urogenital abnormalities in white-spotted golden hamsters

Anat Rec 134:604

1959

Robinson

Genetic studies of the Syrian Hamster II: Partial Albinism

Heredity 13:165-177

1959

Robinson

Genetic Studies of the Syrian Hamster III: Variation of Dermal Pigmentation

Genetica 30:393-411

1958

Whitney

Behaviour of three coat coat color factors in Syrian Hamsters

J Hered 49:181-188

1958

Robinson

Genetic studies of the Syrian Hamster I: The mutant genes Cream, Ruby-Eye and Piebald

J Genetics 56:85-102

1958

Knapp and Polivanov

Anophthalmic Albino - a new mutation in the Syrian Hamster

Am Nat 92:317-318

1957

Robinson

Partial Albinism in the Syrian Hamster

Nature 180:443-444

1955

Robinson

Two new mutations in the Syrian Hamster (Cream and Ruby-Eye)

Nature 176:353-354

1954

Magalhaes

112 Mottled White, a sex-linked lethal mutation in the Golden Hamster

Anat Rec 120:752

1954

Magalhaes

113 Cream and Tawny, Coat Color mutations in the Golden Hamster

Anat Rec 120:752

1952

Orsini

The Piebald Hamster

J Hered 43:37-40

1949

Foote

A mutation in the Golden Hamster (Piebald)

J Hered 40:101

1949

Shrader

Development of the Dimorphic Pigment Spot of the Syrian Hamster

Anat Rec 105:561

1948

Adler

Origin of the Golden Hamster as a laboratory animal

Nature 162:256

1946

Kupperman

Dimorphic pigmentation in the Golden Hamster and its control by the sex steroids

Anat Rec 96:530

1944

Kupperman

Hormone Control of a Dimorphic Pigmentation Area in the Golden Hamster

Anat Rec 88:442

1944

Kupperman

Sexual Cycle and Dimorphic Pigmentation in the Golden Hamster

Endocrinology 35: 225-226

1931

Adler

Syrian Hamster

Proc Roy Soc 'B' 108: 459

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