• Applied Microscopy
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.186-193
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• 2012

The ultrastructure of the secretory granules of the submandibular gland was examined in the Korean spider shrew, Sorex caecutiens, lesser white-toothed shrew, Crocidura suaveolens and big white-toothed shrew, C. lasiura. The mucous and serous acinar granules of S. caecutiens with a border of the lucid corona differed from those of C. suaveolens and C. lasiurar with a dense lateral border. The mucous acinar granules of C. lasiura with several bands producing a variety of patterns in the matrix were similar to those of C. suaveolens. The serous acinar granules of C. lasiura had a homogenous pale center surrounded by minute dense specks or had an unusual substructure showing a geometric pattern according to the inclusions in the pale matrix of the granules. This is the first report of an unusual substructure showing a geometric pattern of the serous acinar granules of C. lasiura. The myelin-like body was observed in the granular duct cell of the three species of shrew. The myelin-like body of S. caecutiens with layers of unit membranes was different from that of C. suaveolens and C. lasiura with paired membranes. Therefore, the layers composing of the paired membranes of the myelin-like body might be one of the characteristics of Crocidura.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.147-152
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• 1994

Eleven shrews were caught from three areas of Korea. All of them were confirmed in the same species, Crocidura lasiura. All of sera from wild shrews were examined by indirect immunofluorescent test against Hantaan-related virus. The antibody to Hantaan-related virus was detected by 2 out of 11 shrews. Just 2 of 7 shrews from BG area were sero-positive for Hantaan-related virus antigen and none from other. All of sero-positive for Hantaan-related virus antigen belonged to male with antibody titer of 1:40 to 1:80. Two Hantaan-related viruses were isolated in vivo and in vitro.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.179-184
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• 2004

Normal and abnormal morphology of the epididymal spermatozoa in the big white-toothed shrew, Crocidura lasiura were studied with the light and electron microscopy. Normal spematozoa were observed with a few abnormal spermatozoa. This indicates that abnormal morphology is no absolute indicator of infertility. However, the existence of the abnormal spermatozoa is related to infertility. Especially abnormal morphology of the sperm head is definitely associated with infertility. The following types of abnormal head morphology of the epididymal spermatozoa in the wild healthy adults of the C. lasiura were described: 1) Nucleus with lack of condensation of the nucleoplasm 2) Destructed acrosome 3) Folded acrosome and plasma membrane 4) Separation of the acrosome from the nucleus 5) Acrosome with irregular condensation 6) Wrongly located granules of the apical body.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.91-97
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• 2005

The acinar cells and secretory granules of the parotid salivary gland were examined in the lesser white toothed shrew, Crocidura suaveolens and the big white-toothed shrew, C. lasiura. The parotid gland of both species were a serous gland having only one kind of serous acinar cells, and had conventional arrangement of acini and intercalated, granular and striated ducts. In case of C. suaveolens, serous acinar cells had well developed rER, prominent Golgi complex, several large mitochondria and abundant moderate dense secretory granules with various stages of the maturing or fusing process. Immature acinar secretory granules were only or mainly filled with fine strong dense specks and had an indistinct limiting membrane, and mature granules were filled with homogeneous pale large round center and had fine strong dense specks at the periphery of the homogeneous pale center and a distinct limiting membrane. In case of C. lasiula, serous acinar cells had well developed rER, prominent Golgi complex, several large mitochondria and abundant dense secretory granules with maturing or fusing process. Immature acinar secretory granules were only filled with pale rough specks and had an indistinct limiting membrane, and mature granules were only filled with rough dense specks and had a distinct limiting membrane. Eventually The acinar secretory granules of C. suaveolens were seen moderate at the light and ultrastuctural level, those of C. lasiura were strong dense at the light microscopic level and dense at the ultrastructural level.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.57-64
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• 2005

The ultrastructure and histochemical characteristics of the submandibular gland was examined in the big white-toothed shrew, Crocidura lasiura. A submandibular gland of Crocidura lasiura was a mixed gland composed of serous and mucous acinar cells. Secretory granules from the acini were discharged through the intercalated duct, the granular duct and the striated duct into the oral cavity. Serous and mucous acinar cells and granular duct cells had large amount of rough endoplasmic reticulum, free ribosome and prominent Golgi apparatus at the basal cytoplasm of the cell, and many granules at the apical cytoplasm. Oval type serous granules had a homogeneously pale round shape of bead at the center. Mucous granules were distinct from those of the other mammalian species having variety patterns with several dense bands into homogeneous pale matrix. A serous-like secretory granules and myelin-like body were observed in the cytoplasm and the lumen of granular duct cells. The myelin-like body is a characteristic structure only reported in the salivary glands of two shrews, Suncus murinus and C. dsinezumi. Striated duct cell had numerous well-developed mitochondria but secretory granule was not shown at all.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.203-212
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• 2013

The tooth morphology and qualitative mineral contents on enamel surface using energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, (EDX) were examined in the white-toothed shrew (genus Crocidura ) Crocidura lasiura and C. suaveolens and the red-toothed shrew (genus Sorex) Sorex caecutiens. In the case of C. lasiura and C. suaveolens, dental formula was found I 3/1 C1/1 P1/1 M3/3=28. The upper 1st and 2nd molars had an unequal W-shape formed by 5 cusps on the crown. The 3rd molar was found one-third the size of those of 1st and 2nd molars. The upper 1st incisor had two different sized hook-shapes and the lower 1st incisor was even. In the case of S. caecutiens, dental formula was found to be I3/1 C1/1 P3/1 M3/3=32. The upper 1st and 2nd molars had an equal W-shape on crown. The upper 3rd molar was half the size of those of the other molars. The upper 1st incisor possessed two similar sized hook-shapes and the lower 1st incisor had an uneven and serrated form. A comparison with the dental and cranial measurements revealed C. lasiura to be the largest of the three species (p<0.001) and C. suaveolens and S. caecutiens were similar in size (p>0.05). A qualitative analysis of mineral contents on enamel surface of the lower 1st incisor and lower 1st molar using EDX revealed C, O, P, Ca and Cu in all specimens and Pb was detected in several enamel specimens. No significant differences in the mineral contents (% weight) were observed among the three species (p>0.05). Fe was only detected on enamel surface of S. caecutiens with red pigmented teeth. Therefore, Fe is responsible for the red tip of the teeth. These results suggest that tooth morphological characteristics including the color of the tooth tip might be used as the key classifying species belonging to Crocidura and Sorex.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.311-314
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• 2009

A total of 1,498 small mammals (rodents and insectivores), including Apodemus agrarius (n= 1,366), Crocidura lasiura (54), Mus musculus (32), Micronytus fortis (28), Eothenomys regulus (9), Micronys minutes (6), and Cricetulus triton (3), were live-trapped in Gyeonggi-do (Province) (Paju-si, Pocheon-gun, and Yeoncheon-gun) near the demilitarized zone (DMZ) from December 2004 to September 2005. A. agrarius was found to be infected with 3 species of echinostomes (Echinostoma hortense, Echinostoma cinetorchis, and Euparyphium murinum), while C. lasiura was infected with 1 species (Echinochasmus japonicas) of echinostome. Other mammals were free from echinostome infections. Total 16 E. hortense were detected in 7 (0.5%) mice, 9 E. cinetorchis from 5 (0.4%), and 3 E. murinum from 2 (0.1%) out of 1.366 A. agrarius examined. E. japonicus was found only in 1 (1.9%; total 3 specimens) C. lasiura. These results demonstrate that A. agrarius and C. lasiura, inhabiting near the DMZ of Gyeonggi-do serve as the natural definitive hosts for several species of echinostomes, although their infection rates are low. This is the first record of natural infections of A. agrarius with E. cinetorchis and C. lasiura with E. japonicus in the Republic of Korea.

• The Korean Journal of Zoology
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.35-38
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• 1967

A cursory study of small mammals on and near five military compounds where Korean Hemorrhagic Fever patients had been reported indicated that Mus musculus was more closely associated with man than all other mammals ccmbined. Therefore, there is a greater probability that Mus musculus is associated with the disease than any other species. Rattus rattus was common in villages and farm houses but was not abundant on military compounds. The two shrews, Crocidura lasiura and C. suaνeolens were uncommon, but they were often found in close association with hemorrhagic fever patients. Other small mammals were rare or lived in such places as to come in contact with man rarely.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.218-229
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• 2001

The cycle of the seminiferous epithelium and spermiogenesis in three species if the genus Crocidura, the lesser white-toothed shrew, C. suaveolens, the Japanese white-toothed shrew, C. dsinezumi and the big(=Ussuri) white-toothed shrew C. lasiura, in the breeding season were studied with light and electron microscopes. The three species examined are distinguished from each other in the morphology of the seminiferous epithelium and the spermiogenesis, suggesting that these morphological characteristics are useful for the identification of the species. C. dsinezumi and C. lasiura, however, share many characteristics which are not common in C. suaveolens, as follows: In both species, 1) the cycle of the seminiferous epithelium is composed of 10 stages against 11 stages in C. suaveloens; 2) the earliest intermediated type spermatogonia is observed at stage I against stage III in C. suaveolens; 3) the spermatids of step 5 is observed during the stages V-VI against stages V-VII in C. suaveolens; 4) the acrosomal extension occurs during the stages VIII-X against tages IX-XI in C. suaveolens; 5) the condensation of the nucleus occurs simultaneously whereas it begins from the middle and along the nuclear membrane in C. suaveolens; 6) the capitular length in acrosome phase is shorter(about 2/3 of the diameter of the proximal centriole) than in C. suaveolens(longer than the diameter of proximal centriole; 7) length of the post nuclear cap is shorter(less than a half of the nucleus) than in C. suaveolens(about a half on the nucleus). Hudging from the similarities in the spermatogenesis in C. dsinezumi and C. lasiura, the relationship between them seems to be close compared to those with C. suaveolens.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.37-45
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• 2010

Captured wild specimens of the big white-toothed shrew, Crocidura lasiura were classified into three age classes by tooth wear and height of molars, and seasonal variations of breeding and reproductive organs were examined. Juveniles had not tooth wear in molars and height of the third molars were lower than the first and second molars, and had only non-breeding condition. Young adults had little tooth wear and the third molars reached to the first and second molars, and old adults had heavy tooth wear in molars, young adults and old adults had breeding or non-breeding condition according to the season. On the basis of histological examination, seasonal variations of breeding were confirmed that breeding condition of young and old adult males were continued from early February to early October although the breeding activity was the highest in April, that of females were continued from the end of March to October, males reached sexual maturity earlier than females. Whereas the breeding condition seems to cease for non-breeding season because of the deficiency of food resources, soil invertebrates. Young and old adult males of the breeding season had large testes with enlarged seminiferous tubules that were filled with numerous germ cells, and expanded caudal epididymides with a vast number of spermatozoa, and were more than 10.0 g in the body weight and 0.03 g in the testis and epididymis weight. The females of the breeding season were pregnant condition with 4~6 litters or had the Graafian follicles and the corpus lutea in the ovary, and were more than 9.6 g in the body weight.