Inclusion of substantial levels of raw-frozen Pacific hake
(Merluccius productus) in diets of ranch-raised mink (Mustela vison)
causes a large percentage of animals to develop an abnormal condition
termed "cotton fur" (CF), characterized by depressed body
weight, microcytic-hypochromic anemia and a failure of under-fur
pigmentation. Observations by several groups of...
Experiments were conducted to determine: 1) the effects of exogenous melatonin and reduced photoperiod on molting and growth of the winter pelage (fur) and 2) whether changes in serum prolactin levels of treated and control mink during this same period were correlated with growth of winter fur. Adult and kit...
Female mink (Mustela vison) are highly sensitive to polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB)-induced reproductive impairment. The goal of this research was to develop a better understanding of the mechanism of PCB-induced effects on female mink, mink embryos, and surviving mink kits. Anestrous, juvenile female mink and pregnant, adult mink were exposed to...