Emily Mocarski

All Publications

• Case Report: Malignant Interstitial Cell Tumor with Pulmonary Metastases in an Aging Naïve Fischer 344 Rat. Journal of the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science : JAALAS Reineking, W., Schwartz, K., Mocarski, E., Vilches-Moure, J. G. 2025: 1-5

  Abstract

  Fischer 344 rats are a well-characterized laboratory animal. Of note, their popularity as a research model declined due to the high incidence of spontaneous tumor development in the strain. Among these tumors, testicular interstitial cell tumors (ICTs) are frequently observed. We describe here three aged male Fischer 344 rats that were submitted for diagnostic pathology due to an increase in morbidity (increased respiratory effort, general malaise, and weight loss) in the research cohort. In all animals, there was bilateral enlargement of the testes. On the cut surface, multiple well-demarcated masses were compressing and replacing the original testicular tissue. Histologically, these masses were identified as ICTs. The tumors were composed of 3 distinct cell types that correlate with varying degrees of interstitial cell maturation. In one rat, intravascular pulmonary metastases were observed, which resembled the ICT cells morphologically. Malignant ICTs are an unusual finding despite the very high incidence of ICTs in Fischer 344 rats. Our assessment suggests that there are no morphologic criteria that reliably predict malignant and metastatic behavior of ICTs in F344 rats, highlighting the need for clinical monitoring of animals for which castration is chosen as a treatment.

  View details for DOI 10.30802/AALAS-JAALAS-25-154

  View details for PubMedID 41456862

• Tiletamine-Zolazepam for Total Intravenous Anesthesia in Sheep. Journal of the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science : JAALAS Mocarski, E., Heng, K., Huss, M., Saenz, Y., Franco, B., Butts Pauly, K., Jampachaisri, K., Sharp, P., Pacharinsak, C. 2025: 1-6

  Abstract

  Total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA) is an alternative to inhalant anesthesia when inhalant anesthesia is unavailable or contraindicated. This study investigated the anesthetic efficacy of tiletamine-zolazepam (TZ) through continuous rate infusion in sheep undergoing a 120-minute noninvasive imaging procedure. We hypothesized that the TZ continuous rate infusion would provide effective general anesthesia for imaging. Six male Dorset sheep were sedated with 4-6 mg/kg TZ intramuscularly, intubated, and maintained on 5-15 mg/kg/h TZ intravenous continuous rate infusion. Measured anesthetic parameters included heart rate, oxygen saturation (%SpO2), end-tidal carbon dioxide (ETCO2), body temperature, and direct arterial blood pressure (systolic, diastolic, and mean); blood gas analysis was performed during anesthesia. Time to extubation and standing (recovery) were measured. Other clinical observations (thrashing, activity, vocalization, and general appearance) were also assessed throughout recovery. Heart rate, %SpO2, ETCO2, body temperature, and direct arterial blood pressure were stable throughout imaging anesthesia. Time to extubation and standing (recovery) were 25 ± 6.5 and 34 ± 8.0 minutes, respectively. No abnormal clinical observations were noted. These data suggest that TZ TIVA provides effective general anesthesia for up to 120 minutes of noninvasive imaging.

  View details for DOI 10.30802/AALAS-JAALAS-25-108

  View details for PubMedID 41213502

• An Overview of Anesthetic Procedures for Ferret (Mustela putorius furo) Preclinical Brain MRI: A Call for Standardization. Journal of the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science : JAALAS Celdran-Bonafonte, D., O'Connell, K. A., Dieckhaus, L., Mocarski, E., Adras, N. M., Hutchinson, E. B., Pacharinsak, C. 2025; 64 (1): 16-28

  Abstract

  Neuroscience research has been increasingly active during the last 2 decades, largely driven by the high prevalence and increasing burden of neurologic disorders. While rodents are essential models for biomedical research of neurologic disorders, they lack similar brain anatomy and protein expression profiles to humans, thus limiting their translational value as models of traumatic brain injury, stroke, Alzheimer's disease, and Parkinson's disease. The use of ferrets as a model species in neuroscience has been increasing due to their neuroanatomical similarities with humans, including a gyrencephalic brain and larger white matter-to-gray matter ratio. Compared with nonhuman primates, sheep, and swine, ferrets also have the advantages of reduced size, lower housing costs, and lower phylogenetic order. These, among other advantages, make ferrets a promising species to bridge research gaps and complement traditional rodent studies. Although modern neuroscience research in ferrets relies heavily on advanced imaging techniques such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), most of the preclinical MRI installations are not designed or optimized for use with ferrets. In this paper we discuss the intricacies and limitations that need to be considered when performing ferret MRI procedures. Reviews of ferret biologic peculiarities, anesthetic protocols, management of complications, and the impact of these factors on MRI outcomes are presented. Standardizing anesthesia protocols for the conduct of MRI in ferrets will aid in better physiologic monitoring as well as imaging outcomes that ultimately benefit the science being conducted.

  View details for DOI 10.30802/AALAS-JAALAS-24-086

  View details for PubMedID 40035279

  View details for PubMedCentralID PMC11808380

• Abstracts of the Thirty-Sixth Meeting of the American Society of Primatologists. June 19-22, 2013. San Juan, Puerto Rico. American journal of primatology 2013; 75 Suppl 1: 29-106

  View details for DOI 10.1002/ajp.22188

  View details for PubMedID 23983003