Gamete biology of the new world marsupial, the grey short-tailed opossum, Monodelphis domestica

1996 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 605 ◽  
Author(s):  
HD Moore
Keyword(s):  
Animal Model ◽  
New World ◽  
Monodelphis Domestica ◽  
Sperm Maturation ◽  
Developmental Changes ◽  
Gamete Fusion ◽  
Laboratory Conditions ◽  
Complex Processes ◽  
Gamete Biology

Mammalian gametes undergo a series of functional and developmental changes that culminate in fertilization. In order to appreciate the necessity for such complex processes as sperm maturation, capacitation and the intimate sperm-egg interactions leading to gamete fusion, it is important to understand how gametes may have evolved. In this respect, marsupials are particularly relevant since they exhibit features reminiscent of both non-mammalian vertebrates and eutherian mammals. The grey short-tailed opossum, Monodelphis domestica, is a New World marsupial from Brazil. It breeds well under laboratory conditions and is an excellent animal model to investigate marsupial gamete biology. As in other American marsupials, the spermatozoa of the opossum form pairs in the epididymis. Here, a number of studies carried out in this laboratory, related to sperm maturation, capacitation and fertilization in M. domestica, are reviewed and the gamete biology in this species is compared with what is known in other marsupials and eutherian mammals.

scholarly journals Monodelphis domestica as a fetal intra-cerebral inoculation model for Zika virus pathogenesis

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
John M. Thomas ◽  
Juan Garcia ◽  
Matthew Terry ◽  
Ileana Lozano ◽  
Susan M. Mahaney ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Animal Model ◽  
Zika Virus ◽  
Developmental Stages ◽  
Experimental Manipulation ◽  
Monodelphis Domestica ◽  
Growth Restriction ◽  
Human Embryos ◽  
New Model ◽  
Global Growth

ABSTRACTMonodelphis domestica, also known as the laboratory opossum, is a marsupial native to South America. At birth, these animals are developmentally equivalent to human embryos at approximately 5 weeks of gestation which, when coupled with other characteristics including the size of the animals, the development of a robust immune system during juvenile development, and the relative ease of experimental manipulation, have made M. domestica a valuable model in many areas of biomedical research. However, their suitability as models for infectious diseases, especially diseases caused by viruses such as Zika virus (ZIKV), is currently unknown. Here, we describe the replicative effects of ZIKV using a fetal intra-cerebral model of inoculation. Using immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization, we found that opossum embryos and fetuses are susceptible to infection by ZIKV administered intra-cerebrally, that the infection persists long term, and that the infection and viral replication consistently results in neural pathology and may occasionally result in global growth restriction. These results demonstrate the utility of M. domestica as a new animal model for investigating ZIKV infection in vivo. This new model will facilitate further inquiry into viral pathogenesis, particularly for those viruses that are neurotropic, that may require a host with the ability to support sustained viral infection, and/or that may require intra-cerebral inoculations of large numbers of embryos or fetuses.AUTHOR SUMMARYHere we show that the laboratory opossum (Monodelphis domestica) is a valuable new model for studying Zika virus pathogenesis. Newborns are at the developmental stage of 5-week human embryos. Zika virus inoculated on a single occasion into the brains of pups at the human developmental stages of 8-20 weeks post conception replicated in neuronal cells and persisted as a chronic infection until the experimental endpoint at 74-days post infection. In addition, we observed global growth restriction in one of 16 inoculated animals; global growth restriction has been observed in humans and other animal models infected with Zika virus. The results illustrate great potential for this new animal model for high throughput research on the neurological effects of Zika virus infection of embryos and fetuses.

Description and behaviour of Goniotropis kuntzeni larvae (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Paussinae: Ozaenini) and a key to genera of Paussinae larvae

Zootaxa ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 1111 (1) ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
WENDY MOORE ◽  
ANDREA DI GIULIO
Keyword(s):  
New World ◽  
Instar Larva ◽  
Insect Prey ◽  
Laboratory Conditions ◽  
First Instar ◽  
Feeding Behaviours

Goniotropis species are large, parallel-sided paussine beetles common in the New World tropics and ranging from southern Arizona to northern Argentina.  Specimens of Goniotropis kuntzeni Bänninger were collected in southern Arizona and larvae were reared under laboratory conditions.  The egg, first instar larva and second instar larva are described and illustrated, providing the first larval description for this genus.  Goniotropis larvae live in burrows that they construct and seal with their terminal disk (which is composed of modified urogomphi and dorsal plates).  They feed by trapping live insect prey with the moveable components of their terminal disk, and then they bring the captured prey into their gallery to consume.  Burrowing and feeding behaviours of Goniotropis kuntzeni larva closely resemble those previously described for Pachyteles species.  A key to the genera of paussine larvae is provided.

scholarly journals Zebrafish: Recomendações de Manutenção em Laboratório

UNICIÊNCIAS ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 141-145
Author(s):  
Carla Letícia Gediel Rivero-Wendt ◽  
Rosemary Matias ◽  
Giovana Coutinho Zulin do Nascimento ◽  
Silvia Cristina Heredia-Vieira ◽  
Magno Rafael Miranda Santos ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Animal Model ◽  
Literature Review ◽  
Experimental Animal ◽  
Danio Rerio ◽  
Scientific Research ◽  
Quality Standards ◽  
Environmental Sciences ◽  
Development Environment ◽  
Laboratory Conditions ◽  
Disease Reduction

O zebrafish ou paulistinha (Danio rerio) são cada vez mais utilizados em pesquisas científicas incluindo a pesquisa básica e aplicada nas áreas de biomedicina, toxicologia, ciências ambientais e aquicultura. No Brasil, os biotérios automatizados são escassos, têm custo oneroso e para fazer uso do modelo animal são necessárias adaptações para criação e manutenção da espécie. Deve existir a compreensão de que as adaptações devem respeitar os padrões de qualidade, implicando na diminuição de mortalidade e doenças nos aquários de manutenção. O objetivo desta revisão de literatura é apresentar as recomendações de protocolo de manutenção do zebrafish, em condições de laboratório, sem o uso de biotério automatizado. Apesar da gama de informações e diferentes métodos de manutenção encontrados para a espécie, fica claro que em condições de laboratório se deve manter o animal nas melhores condições, possibilitando qualidade no desenvolvimento e na reprodução para realizar experimentos com confiabilidade de execução.   Palavras-chave: Desenvolvimento. Ambiente e Sustentabilidade. Danio rerio. Biotério.   Abstract The use of Zebrafish or paulistinha (Danio rerio) has increased considerably in basic and applied scientific research as biomedicine, toxicology, environmental sciences and aquaculture. In Brazil, automated experimental animal facilities are scarce and costly. To make use of this animal model, adaptations are required for creation and maintenance. These changes must respect quality standards, providing mortality and disease reduction in aquariums maintenance. The literature review aim is to synthesize recommendations for the zebrafish maintenance protocol in laboratory conditions without the automated experimental animal facility. Despite the information range and different maintenance methods found for the species, it is clear that under laboratory conditions, the animal must be kept in the best conditions, enabling development and reproduction quality to be used in experiments with reliable execution. Keywords: Development. Environment and Sustainability. Danio rerio. Experimental Animal Facility.

Occurrence and simulation of nitrification in two contrasting sugarcane soils from the Australian wet tropics

Soil Research ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 44 (1) ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. A. Meier ◽  
P. J. Thorburn ◽  
M. E. Probert
Keyword(s):  
Incubation Period ◽  
Tropical Soils ◽  
Ammonium Nitrogen ◽  
Mineral N ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Laboratory Conditions ◽  
Complex Processes ◽  
Nitrate N ◽  
Subtropical Soils ◽  
Wet Tropics

The concentration of ammonium-nitrogen (NH4+-N) frequently exceeds that of nitrate-N (NO3−-N) in Australian wet tropical sugarcane soils. The amount of mineral N in soil is the net result of complex processes in the field, so the objective of this experiment was to investigate nitrification and ammonification in these soils under laboratory conditions. Aerobic and saturated incubations were performed for 1 week on 2 wet tropical soils. Net NO3−-N increased significantly in both soils during both types of incubation. A second series of aerobic incubations of these soils treated with NH4+-N and inoculated with subtropical nitrifying soils was conducted for 48 days. Nitrification in the wet tropical soils was not significantly affected by inoculation, and virtually all added N was nitrified during the incubation period. Mineral N behaviour of the 48-day incubations was captured with the APSIM-SoilN model. As nitrification proceeded under laboratory conditions and was able to be captured by the model, it was concluded that nitrification processes in the wet tropical soils studied were not different from those in the subtropical soils. Processes that remove NO3− from the soil, such as leaching and denitrification, may therefore be important factors affecting the proportions of NH4+-N and NO3−-N measured under field conditions.

Culture of preantral ovarian follicles in the grey, short-tailed opossum, Monodelphis domestica

1996 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 535 ◽  
Author(s):  
L Butcher ◽  
SL Ullmann
Keyword(s):  
Body Temperature ◽  
Culture System ◽  
New World ◽  
Follicle Stimulating Hormone ◽  
Ovarian Follicles ◽  
Monodelphis Domestica ◽  
The Body ◽  
Follicle Growth ◽  
Marsupial Species

A culture system designed to support the development of individual preantral mouse ovarian follicles has been employed to study follicle growth in the New World marsupial species Monodelphis domestica. Preantral follicles were isolated mechanically and cultured individually in microdrops under oil. Preliminary results indicate that follicle growth was positively correlated to the concentration of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) provided, with 1.0-1.5 IU FSH mL-1 producing the best results. Incubation at the body temperature of M. domestica (33 degrees C) was found to be preferable to that at 37 degrees C. The culture system was able to support follicle growth; however, despite follicles exceeding the size when antrum formation occurs in vivo, they remained preantral.

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