GLYCOSAMINOGLYCANS OF THE UTERINE AND VAGINAL CUL-DE-SAC TISSUE IN THE BRUSHTAIL POSSUM (TRICHOSURUS-VULPECULA)

Live-captured feral brushtail possums (Trichosurus vulpecula) received slow-release progestagen implants for 16 days after removal of pouch young. At the time of implant removal one group was injected intramusc ularly with pregnant mare serum gonadotrophin (PMSG, 2 I.U. kg(-1) in 0.2 mL saline) and another group received an equivalent volume of ster ile saline. Animals from each group were killed on Days 0, 3, 4, 5 or 6 after implant removal (PMSG, n = 4 per day; saline controls, n = 3 p er day). The uterus and vaginal cul-de-sac were excised and tissue was analysed for glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) and keratan sulfate content. G AG concentration increased progressively over the six-day period follo wing implant removal. Mean uterine GAG concentrations were significant ly higher than those in vaginal cul-de-sac from Day 3 to Day 6 in PMSG -treated and saline-treated animals following progestagen implant remo val (P < 0.05). Keratan sulfate concentrations showed a similar respon se-concentrations were higher in uterine tissue than in vaginal cul-de -sac tissue and PMSG-treated animals showed a greater response than di d saline controls in the uterine tissue, but the same response in cul- de-sac tissue (P < 0.05 for all groups). The progressive increase in G AG concentrations of reproductive tract tissue following removal of th e progesterone implant is indicative of hormonal stimulation and sugge sts that GAGs may have a supportive role in gamete and embryo nutritio n and growth in the brushtail possum.