Frahm H D, Rehkämper G, Nevo E
C. & O. Vogt institute for Brain Research, Heinrich-Heine-University, Düsseldorf, Germany.
J Hirnforsch. 1997;38(2):209-22.
Natural blindness and a subterranean, digging mode of life demand peculiar adaptations of the central nervous system in the mole rat Spalax ehrenbergi, which are the focus of this quantitative investigation. Volumes of 25 brain structures in Spalax were evaluated allometrically, using the least encephalized mammalian species, the Madagassian hedgehog-like tenrecs (Tenrecinae) as a reference base, and their sizes compared with those of the rat (as a more generalized representative of rodents) and of some subterranean Insectivora. The allometric approach reveals that Spalax has a larger brain than tenrecs and the rat. Within the brain, the neocortex and diencephalon are well developed, an observation also made in other mammalian species with a relatively high encephalization. An unique feature in Spalax is the enlargement of motor structures of the brain, such as the cerebellum (and cerebellar nuclei), and the striatum. Most conspicuous is the large size of the nucleus motorius nervi trigemini, reflecting the importance of masticatory muscles for the special digging technique, which demand an intense use of the teeth for loosening the soil.
自然失明以及地下挖掘的生活方式要求中东盲鼹鼠（Spalax ehrenbergi）的中枢神经系统具备特殊的适应性变化，这正是此项定量研究的重点。本研究以脑化程度最低的哺乳动物——马达加斯加刺猬猬（Tenrecinae）作为参照基准，对中东盲鼹鼠25个脑结构的体积进行了异速生长评估，并将其大小与大鼠（作为啮齿动物的一个更具代表性的物种）以及一些地下食虫动物进行比较。异速生长分析表明，中东盲鼹鼠的脑比刺猬猬和大鼠的脑更大。在脑内，新皮层和间脑发育良好，这一观察结果在其他脑化程度相对较高的哺乳动物物种中也有发现。中东盲鼹鼠的一个独特特征是其脑的运动结构增大，如小脑（和小脑核）以及纹状体。最显著的是三叉神经运动核体积巨大，这反映了咀嚼肌对于特殊挖掘技术的重要性，因为这种挖掘技术需要频繁使用牙齿来松动土壤。
