Reynolds T J, Wright J W
Lab Anim. 1979 Apr;13(2):93-9. doi: 10.1258/002367779780943576.
6 litters of Octodon degus were studied from birth to 10 days of age. Newly-born degus (mean weight 14.6 g) had open eyes, upper and lower pigment, fur, and teeth. Within 3-4 hours of birth they were able to walk supporting their full weight, right themselves rapidly, sit upright on their haunches, or rear upright with support, and vocalize. By the 1st or 2nd day, the young animals displayed functional grooming (face washing, hind-paw scratching, rapid head-shake). Solid food was ingested from day 6, although newborns chewed wood chips and 3-day olds gnawed dried faeces. Young degus were tested daily in an open field apparatus and showed increased activity and exploration, with repeated testing while decreasing distress vocalization after the 4th or 5th day. Degus are proposed for the study of developmental topics since their degree of development at birth allows for immediate testing. The degus studied here seem to be more fully developed at birth than those studied in Britain.
对6窝八齿鼠从出生到10日龄进行了研究。新生八齿鼠（平均体重14.6克）眼睛睁开，有上下色素沉着、毛发和牙齿。出生后3至4小时内，它们就能支撑全身重量行走，能迅速翻身，能后腿直立坐着，或在支撑下直立起身，并能发出叫声。到第1天或第2天，幼崽就表现出功能性梳理行为（洗脸、用后爪挠痒、快速摇头）。从第6天开始摄取固体食物，不过新生鼠会咀嚼木屑，3日龄的幼鼠会啃食干粪便。幼龄八齿鼠每天在旷场装置中接受测试，表现出活动和探索增加，经过反复测试，在第4天或第5天后痛苦叫声减少。由于八齿鼠出生时的发育程度允许立即进行测试，因此建议将其用于发育主题的研究。这里研究的八齿鼠在出生时似乎比在英国研究的八齿鼠发育得更完全。
