Ocular findings in two colonies of gray mouse lemurs (Microcebus murinus).

Objective: To determine the incidence and describe the characteristics of cataracts and other ocular lesions found in two colonies of gray mouse lemurs (Microcebus murinus).

Animals Studied: A total number of 218 mouse lemurs (age range: 4 months-11 years) were included in this study. All individuals were property of the Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle (France), and were housed either in Paris (colony #1: 75 animals examined), or in Brunoy (colony #2: 143 animals).

Age effects on pheromone induced Fos expression in olfactory bulbs of a primate.

In the gray mouse lemur, a prosimian primate, aging is associated with a reduction of olfactory behaviors and sexual stimulation. To assess the effect of aging on the central response to pheromone stimulation in this primate, we measured the c-fos expression in the main and accessory olfactory bulbs of adult and aged male mouse lemurs, following exposure to the volatile phase of urine from proestrous females. In adults, pheromone exposure increased the number of Fos-positive neurons in the main olfactory bulb without changes in the accessory olfactory bulb.

Response to urinary volatiles and chemosensory function decline with age in a prosimian primate.

The age-related decline in olfaction is well documented in humans. However, no data are available to date on changes in olfactory sensitivity with age in nonhuman primates. In the male gray mouse lemur (Microcebus murinus), a prosimian primate, the sense of smell is of high relevance for the modulation of both behavioral and physiological functions.

Are age-related deficits in balance performance mediated by time of day in a prosimian primate (Microcebus murinus)?

We examined the effects of age and time of day on balance performance in the gray mouse lemur (Microcebus murinus) in relation to body temperature variations. Groups of young, adult and aged animals were entrained to either short (SP, L/D 10/14) or long photoperiod (LP, L/D 14/10) and tested in the accelerating Rotarod at three phases of their light/dark cycle (beginning and end of the light phase, beginning of the dark phase). In addition, for each test, rectal temperature (Tr) was measured.

Physical activity and balance performance as a function of age in a prosimian primate (Microcebus murinus).

Physical activity and balance performance were examined in gray mouse lemurs (Microcebus murinus) aging from 1 to 10 years of age. Home cage spontaneous activity, physical and behavioral activities in an open-field test and balance performance at the Rotarod test were evaluated. In this prosimian primate, which life span reaches 8-10 years in captivity, balance performance at the Rotarod test showed a clear decrease with age.