In a past nematode study killing off reproductive (germ) cells increased
lifespans by 60% but in a current study (June "Aging Cell", Carey ,et al
at UC Davis) on mice the opposite happened when transplanting in youthful
(2 month old) ovaries instead increased lifespan, with the greatest gain
for the mice who were the oldest at the time of transplant (11 months
age at transplant gave around a 60% increase in remaining life compared
to being without ovaries from age 3 weeks, and a 40% lifespan increase
compared to those who never lost their ovaries.  8 month old mice (at
transplant) lived about 24% longer than without ovaries, and 5 month old
mice (at transplant) lived about 7% longer than being without ovaries.
Now, does this hold for other mammals?  that isn't known.  If so, may
it be that there might be hormonal approaches eventually which increase
ferrets' lifespan?  It remains to be seen.  (If so, the maximum gain
talked about appears to be about a year in terms of ferret lifespans
which is quite a gain; with the maximum being like a 50 year old human
woman being able to expect to live to 92 instead of 80.  I am hoping this
one winds up being readily available in full text for reading on Hubmed
http://www.pmbrowser.info/ in the future; right now there is a write up
in "Science News".  (Of course in places where ferrets are or need to be
non-mated and indoors there are worse risks to leaving a ferret whole,
and it is interesting that the whole mice didn't live as long as the
early neutered mice who later got ovarian tissue in their older years.)
 
Speaking of endocrinology and hormones (also the topic in the darkness
and melatonin thing) our vet said that one veterinary research speaker
at the recent exotics conference (Sorry but I forget her name.) has some
new research indicating that Lupron shots at low levels given about the
normal yearly time of ferrets going into heat may decrease adrenal
neoplasia, so Joe (our vet, Joe Martins of Bellemead AH in central NJ)
wants us to try that next Spring for our crew.
 
The downtime for Smartgroups has been postponed so if you need some of
the files in the FHL you still have time in which to get those (heads up
to the dysuria person).  New down dates are not announced yet.  See Pam's
note (which is how i found out) at
http://www.smartgroups.com/message/readmessage.cfm?gid=1423922
&messageid=5044&startid=5047
 
When a middle or old age ferret changes and becomes aggressive think of
health, esp.  adrenal growths, as a possible cause and get a vet check.
 
Carefully avoid violence as a response; it usually backfires.  Stick
to one form of non-violent corrective method like times out.  Trying a
variety, especially over a short time, causes confusion in the individual
instead of teaching.
 
http://guide.labanimal.com/guide/search.html
Wow, Alicia, you found 22 places there that sell ferrets for research
purposes.  Yesterday in a Lycopene study I found another: Charles River
Breeding Laboratories.  Wonder how many more there are?  James, I guess
that your finding that MF only sells 1% of their stock for research
purposes explains why there are now so many other places selling ferrets
for that use, some apparently entirely for that use.  (And folks should
another time remember to look elsewhere at who raises them for fur --
not joking, but don't assume who since the usual scapegoat farm does NOT
do this, but according to one midsized farm another similar sized farm
(which does supply for research as well as pet industry) also bred
ferrets for fur a few years back (though I don't know if it still does.)
You write, "Retired breeders are often sent out to shelters to adopt....
I would be interest to know if any shelters on the list have been
recipients of such rescues." I don't know which ones of those are on now
but when it was first arranged they were on the FML, yes.  I know because
i was a go-between helping set that program up with the goal to avoid
even the few who needlessly lost life before there were adoptions outside
the MF community.  In fact, Pete Reid was the main one there who saw to
it that this program began.  Using those numbers can get the inspection
info, but it might still be by snail mail.  I don't have the addy.  Also,
yes, I HAVE seen MF and our FG&W BOTH force a small pet chain that
treated its ferrets badly to change in major ways when I sent them
documentation.
[Posted in FML issue 4182]