Prostaglandin D2 Regulates SOX9 Nuclear Translocation during Gonadal Sex Determination in Tammar Wallaby, Macropus eugenii

The ontogeny of Mullerian inhibiting substance (MIS) production by the developing testis of an Australian marsupial, the tammar wallaby (Macropus eugenii), was determined during pouch life using an organ-culture bioassay of mouse fetal urogenital ridge. This information was related to the morphological events during testicular migration and descent. MIS biological activity was found in testes (but not ovaries or liver) of pouch young from 2 to 85 days of age. MIS production had commenced by day 2, which is within a day of the first gross morphological signs of testicular differentiation. Mullerian duct regression occurred between 10 and 30 days, which partly coincided with testicular migration to the inguinal region and enlargement of the gubernacular bulb (15 to 30 days). These observations are consistent with the hypothesis that MIS may be involved in testicular transabdominal migration. The epididymis commenced development and growth only after the testis had descended through the inguinal ring. This provides no support for the suggestion that the epididymis is involved in testicular descent into the scrotum. The basic sequence of events in post-testicular sexual differentiation in the wallaby is sufficiently similar to that seen in eutherian mammals to make it an excellent experimental model for future studies of testicular differentiation, migration and descent.

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Biochemical studies of intrauterine components of the tammar wallaby Macropus eugenii during pregnancy

Development ◽

10.1242/dev.62.1.325 ◽

1981 ◽

Vol 62 (1) ◽

pp. 325-338

Author(s):

Elizabeth J. Thornber ◽

Marilyn B. Renfree ◽

Gregory I. Wallace

Keyword(s):

Protein Concentration ◽

Specific Binding ◽

Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis ◽

Fold Increase ◽

Tammar Wallaby ◽

Macropus Eugenii ◽

Tenfold Increase ◽

Specific Proteins ◽

Wet Weight

The in vitro uptake and incorporation of [3H]ui idine by blastocysts of the tammar wallaby showed a 16- and 30-fold increase from day 0 to day 10 after removal of pouch young, respectively. Two of the six non-expanded blastocysts recovered on day 5 showed a tenfold increase in incorporation. During the first ten days after removal of pouch young the diameter of the blastocyst increased threefold. Endometrial exudate from gravid uteri had a higher protein concentration than exudate from nongravid uteri (39·5 ± 0·9 and 32·0 ± 2·0 mg/ml (mean ± s.e.m.), respectively). Endometrial exudates from uteri where the blastocyst was actively growing were found to contain six uterine-specific proteins. These were separated by gradient polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Two of the proteins were pre-albumins and the others were larger molecules (M.W. 153000–670000). Two proteins were only present at particular stages of pregnancy: the other four were present at all stages from diapause to birth, in exudate from gravid and nongravid uteri. The specific binding of progesterone and androstenedione to proteins in endometrial exudates or uterine flushings from pregnant wallabies was less than one per cent of the value obtained from day-5 pregnant rabbits. The ability of mouse blastocysts to take up and incorporate [3H]uridine into acidinsoluble material increased threefold in the presence of day-10 endometrial exudates from wallabies. However, this was less than ten percent of the values obtained in the presence of bovine serum albumin. The concentration of calcium in endometrial exudates increased from 23·6 to 45·2 μg/ml during pregnancy; in endometrium it remained at 88·7 μg/g (wet weight) throughout pregnancy, and in plasma it was 53·3 μg/ml. The concentration of zinc in endometrial exudates was 4·5 μg/ml; in endometrium it decreased from 21·8 to 13·3 μg/g (wet weight) during pregnancy and in plasma it was 0·6 μg/ml.

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Effects of corpus luteum removal on progesterone, oestradiol-17 and LH in early pregnancy of the tammar wallaby, Macropus eugenii

Reproduction ◽

10.1530/jrf.0.0830185 ◽

1988 ◽

Vol 83 (1) ◽

pp. 185-191 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

T. P. Fletcher ◽

M. B. Renfree

Keyword(s):

Corpus Luteum ◽

Early Pregnancy ◽

Tammar Wallaby ◽

Macropus Eugenii

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Ingesta particle size, food handling and ingestion in the tammar wallaby (Macropus eugenii Desmarest)

Australian Journal of Zoology ◽

10.1071/zo98038 ◽

1999 ◽

Vol 47 (1) ◽

pp. 75 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

R. G. Lentle ◽

K. J. Stafford ◽

M. A. Potter ◽

B. P. Springett ◽

S. Haslett

Keyword(s):

Particle Size ◽

New Zealand ◽

Particle Size Distribution ◽

Stomach Contents ◽

Tammar Wallaby ◽

Food Handling ◽

Macropus Eugenii ◽

Food Particles ◽

Chewing Rates ◽

Free Ranging

The particle size distribution of stomach contents from 25 tammar wallabies (Macropus eugenii Desmarest) shot in the Okataina State Forest and adjoining farmland near Rotorua, New Zealand, were determined. There was a greater percentage of finer, and a smaller percentage of larger, particles than reported in the stomach contents of larger macropods. The chewing and biting activities of four free-ranging tammars fitted with radio-microphone collars were monitored. Chewing rates (chews per minute) were similar to those of other small herbivorous vertebrates. There were significantly lower rates of chewing and higher chew-to- bite ratios when browsing than when grazing. Observations of browsing by three captive tammars showed inefficient handling by mutually opposed palms and digitopalmar grip, resulting in low rates of ingestion. We suggest that tammars lower the time necessary for fermentation of food by reducing the size of food particles, and that their choice between graze and browse is influenced by food handling and chewing investment.

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