Pregnancy in a marsupial, the Tasmanian pademelon (Thylogale billardierii)

Citation
Rw. Rose et al., Pregnancy in a marsupial, the Tasmanian pademelon (Thylogale billardierii), REPROD FERT, 11(3), 1999, pp. 175-182
Citations number
33
Categorie Soggetti
Animal Sciences","da verificare
Journal title
REPRODUCTION FERTILITY AND DEVELOPMENT
ISSN journal
10313613 → ACNP
Volume
11
Issue
3
Year of publication
1999
Pages
175 - 182
Database
ISI
SICI code
1031-3613(1999)11:3<175:PIAMTT>2.0.ZU;2-1
Abstract
The Tasmanian pademelon, Thylogale billardierii, is a medium-sized wallaby that adapts well to captivity and, unlike the well-studied tammar wallaby, is capable of breeding all year round. It may,therefore, be a useful model species for research into the reproductive biology of macropod marsupials. This paper presents necessary background data on histological changes in th e reproductive organs and the rate of embryonic growth during gestation in T. billardierii. After Day 4 RPY (removal of young from the pouch) the grav id and non-gravid uteri differ significantly in some histological parameter s. The corpus luteum becomes active by Day 6 RPY and is fully developed by Day 14 RPY; it begins to degenerate from Day 19 RPY. Plasma progesterone co ncentrations through gestation follow a pattern similar to that in the tamm ar wallaby. There is an early smaller, peak at Day 5 RPY, with plasma conce ntrations of progesterone then falling until the larger pre-partum peak occ urs several days before birth.