SUCCESSFUL EMBRYO-TRANSFER IN A SMALL DASYURID MARSUPIAL, SMINTHOPSIS-CRASSICAUDATA

A technique for the transfer of early embryos from the uterus of donor s to recipient females of a small dasyurid marsupial, Sminthopsis cras sicaudata, is described. When the recipients were killed 3 to 5 d late r, a few expanded blastocysts were found to be present in the uteri of most of the females provided that corpora lutea were present in the o varies. This study demonstrates successful embryo transfer in a small marsupial species and supports the view that secretion of the endometr ium due to Luteal activity may be necessary for development of the exp anded unilaminar blastocyst stage.