Ferret

© istockphoto / Julie Ten Eyck

Ferrets play a major role in the study of influenza, the hypothalamic pituitary portal system, visual and auditory systems and also in research into emesis (nausea and vomiting). 

As ferrets eyes do not open until 28 days after birth they are used both as a general model of the development of the visual system and how it is influenced by the use of the eyes.

Ferrets are an important species for studying influenza. They can become naturally infected by both influenza types A and B, and the infection has many similarities to that seen in humans. Ferrets are used to study the differences between seasonal strains of ‘flu so that they can be characterised and vaccines can be developed for new strains

Ferrets show similarities to humans which make them useful models in emesis research. An example of this is in the study of vomiting following treatment with chemothereputic drugs for cancer such as cispalatin. Following chemotherapy vomiting often occurs in two phases in humans; an acute phase lasting for the first 24 hours, then a period after which there is often a delayed phase which continues for several days.  The ferret also shows both stages, and so is an appropriate model to study how chemotherepeutic drugs cause emesis as well as to look at drugs which may work against these effects. There are, however, differences between the effects of the drugs in ferrets and humans. In humans the acute phase is larger than the delayed, however, in the ferret it’s the other way round. (yes)

Tags

Research Fields: Anatomy & development, Infection and Immunity, Brain & nervous system, Cancer research, Psychology & behaviour(yes - 5 items)

Animals Used: Ferret(yes - 1 items)

Medical Applications: Vaccine, Medicine, Basic research(yes - 3 items)