The use of mice as experimental models in pharmacological and biochemical research began over 100 years ago, during which time different mice strains with specific features were developed. Numerous studies demonstrate that the pharmacological efficacy of various compounds significantly varies among different animal strains, a factor which must be considered when analyzing experimental data. The Sabra strain, developed more than 35 years ago, is widely used for research in Israel but has an unclear origin and is not characterized as well as other strains. Comparative analyses of the molecular characteristics of Sabra and other strains should help to understand their characteristics and to enhance the validity of their experimental use. Thus, four mouse strains-outbred ICR and Sabra as well as inbred C57Bl/6J and Balb/c were compared. Animals' weight, blood corticosterone and hippocampal BDNF mRNA levels were measured, and animals' behavior was compared using the EPM, open field, FST, and hot plate tests. We found that although Sabra mice are bigger and heavier than other tested lines, this is not reflected in behavior or in biomolecular features, wherein Sabra mice lay within the diapason of other tested animals. Thus, behavioral tests of anxiety-like behavior and locomotor activity revealed that Sabra mice scored close to the mean of all tested lines. Analysis of blood corticosterone levels did not show significant differences among tested strains. We also found a correlation between general and locomotor activity of the tested strains and their hippocampal BDNF mRNA expression. In summary, we may conclude that Sabra mice have traits similar to the better known lines, and therefore they are good subjects for neuroscience research.

thrush, Turdus philomelos (Passeriformes, Turdidae): a Multivariate Approach. Peskov, V. N., Franchuk, M. V., Atamas', N. S. -Th e paper explores the possibility of implementing the methods of multivariate statistics into studying the growth processes on the example of song thrushes, Turdus philomelos, Brehm, 1831, during their postnatal development as nestlings. Th e developmental trends in 12 morphometric traits in T. philomelos in the course of postembryogenesis is shown to be explained for 99.3 % by the fi rst two principal components (PC). Th e major developmental trend (PC 1 -95.1 %) is defi ned by a highly correlative though irregular growth of linear forms of nestlings' body parts, the two other trends relate to the body proportion formation (PC 2 -4.2 %). Th ere have been discovered the two growth stages: (1) of fast growth: from birth up to the 8th day with relative increment in growth of traits equal in average to 91.9 %, and (2) of slow growth: from the 8th to the 14th day, characterized by a reduction of an average growth increment being fi ve times lower, and by intense feather cover development. Th ere have been demonstrated that all the variables can be structured into the four groups or growth correlation pleiads (groups comprising similarly growing traits). Th e growth is shown to be most specifi c for the song thrush's body, head and bill, being a part of a singl e pleiad. While still forming the three diff erent growth pleiads the properties of the bird's wing, leg, the 3rd and the 4th toes diff er signifi cantly less in respect to their growth characteristics. K e y w o r d s: song thrush, postembryonic growth, growth phases, developmental trends, multivariate analysis.Ростовые процессы в постэмбриональном развитии птенцовых птиц на примере певчего дрозда, Turdus philomelos (Passeriformes, Turdidae): многомерный подход. Песков В. Н., Франчук М. В., Атамась Н. С. -На примере певчего дрозда, Turdus phillomelos, Brehm, 1831, анализируются возможности изучения ростовых процессов в постэмбриональном развитии птенцовых птиц с использованием методов многомерной статистики. Показано, что изменчивость 12 морфометрических признаков в постэмбриогенезе T. phillomelos на 99,3 % описывается первыми двумя главными компонентами (ГК). Основной тренд изменчивости признаков (ГК 1 -95,1 %) определяется высоко согласованным, но неравномерным увеличением линейных размеров частей тела птенцов, два других тренда связаны с формированием его пропорций (ГК 2 -4,2 %). Выявлены фаза интенсивного роста (с 0 до 8 суток, относительный прирост признаков в среднем составляет 91,9 %) и фаза замедленного роста (8-14 суток, характерно уменьшение величины среднего относительного прироста в 5 раз, интенсивное развитие перьевого покрова). Показано, что по величине суточного прироста и характеру динамики ростовых процессов все признаки объединяются в 4 группы или ростовые плеяды (группы одинаково растущих признаков). Наиболее специфично растут тело, голова и клюв, образующие единую плеяду. Признаки крыла, ноги, третьего и четвертого...

Comparative analysis of morphometric characters of surman goby Neogobius cephalargoides and of two subspecies of ginger goby N. eurycephalus is made. Characteristics liable to size variation and sex dimorphism are revealed. Independence of the investigated species and the diagnostic value of characters pre viously suggested for classification are confirmed. The obtained data confirm isolation of north western pop ulations of ginger goby as a separate subspecies N. eurycephalus odessicus and suitability of three meristic characters for differentiation of the subspecies: the number of rays in the second dorsal fin and anal fin and the number of transverse rows of scales.

Sex differences and the ability to determine the sex of Scorpaena porcus (Linnaeus, 1758) on morphological characters were studied in the population inhabiting coastal waters of the Black Sea near the southern coast of Crimea. These differences were revealed in size (females are larger than males) and in proportions of the body. It is found that variation of the absolute and relative values in plastic characters is higher in females compared with males. It is shown that in 92 % of individuals belonging to S. porcus we can determine the sex using morphological characters with a probability of 99.9-100 %.