Sexual Maturation in Female Gray Short-tailed Opossums, Monodeiphis domestica, is Dependent upon Male Stimuli1

Stonerook, Michael J.; Harder, John D.

doi:10.1095/biolreprod46.2.290

Cited by 31 publications

(25 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…In female rodents, primer pheromones influence the onset of puberty [1] and estrous cycles [2,3], and block pregnancy [4]. Similar phenomena exist in other taxa including, but not limited to, primates [51, ungulates [6], and marsupials [7][8][9]. In many cases, the vomeronasal organ (VNO), which contains the peripheral chemoreceptors of the accessory olfactory system, is necessary for detection of pheromones [3,[10][11][12].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 82%

Vomeronasal Organ Removal Blocks Pheromonal Induction of Estrus in Gray Short-Tailed Opossums (Monodelphis Domestica)1

Jackson

Harder

1996

Biology of Reproduction

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Estrus is induced in female gray short-tailed opossums (Monodelphis domestica) by exposure to male chemical signals (pheromones). Isolated females remain anestrous, but direct exposure to a male or his scent-marked cage induces estrus within 4-6 days. The objective of this study was to investigate the importance of the vomeronasal organ in detection of and response to estrus-inducing pheromones. The vomeronasal organ was surgically removed through the palate from 8 females (VNX); 5 females (SHAM) underwent sham surgeries in which the vomeronasal organ was exposed but not removed. After a 10-day recovery period, females were placed into male scent-marked cages. Body weight and urogenital sinus cytology were monitored throughout the experiment. All females were anesthetized and perfused with 4% paraformaldehyde 12-13 days after initial pheromone exposure. Vomeronasal organ ablation was evaluated histologically in decalcified snouts. In addition, deafferentation of the accessory olfactory bulb was confirmed by use of a lectin stain specific for the vomeronasal nerve and the glomerular layer of the bulb. All females classified as completely VNX (n = 5) remained anestrous throughout the pheromonal exposure. Incompletely VNX females (n = 2) and all SHAM animals exhibited estrus within 7 days of pheromone stimulation. At perfusion, the mean uterine weight (280.71 +/- 95.6 mg/85 g BW) of SHAM females was greater (p < 0.05) than that of unresponsive, VNX females (133.33 +/- 31.14 mg/85 g). This study demonstrates that the vomeronasal organ is an essential component for transduction of male pheromones required for induction of estrus in a marsupial species.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 82%

Vomeronasal Organ Removal Blocks Pheromonal Induction of Estrus in Gray Short-Tailed Opossums (Monodelphis Domestica)1

Jackson

Harder

1996

Biology of Reproduction

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“…In M. domestica breeding occurs throughout the year and the estrous cycle is induced by male pheromones [Fadem, 1985[Fadem, , 1987Hinds et al, 1992;Stonerook and Harder, 1992;Harder, 1996, 2000]. Such an induction of estrus led Harder et al [1993] to the statement that Monodelphis exhibits no real estrous cycle.…”

Section: General Remarksmentioning

confidence: 99%

Changes in the Epithelium of the Vaginal Complex during the Estrous Cycle of the Marsupial <i>Monodelphis domestica</i>

Regli

Kress²

2002

Cells Tissues Organs

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The vaginal complex of marsupials differs from that of eutherians. Cervices open separately in a sinus vaginalis or cul-de-sac. Two lateral vaginae adjoin the sinus vaginalis and fuse at the level of the urethra opening and form the sinus urogenitalis. During the estrous cycle the vaginal epithelium undergoes a number of specified morphological changes. This paper is the first to describe these changes on an ultrastructural level in a marsupial. Investigations in Monodelphis vagina reveal that a cyclic switch exists between a keratinized and a stratified nonkeratinized epithelium. Keratinization starts during proestrus and reaches its maximum during estrus. In the postestrus, desquamation of the stratum corneum takes place, mostly in two steps. In metestrus one to two additional layers of the now nonkeratinized surface cells are shed into the vaginal lumen. Typical cell structures, such as keratin filaments, keratohyalin and membrane-coating granules, are involved in the keratinization process. Keratohyalin is found in the cytoplasm as well as in the nucleus of stratum granulosum cells, a phenomenon which is known from other parakeratinized epithelia of rapid turnover. Membrane-coating granules, responsible for the permeability barrier between the epithelial cells, are of the nonlamellated type in the nonkeratinized epithelium and produce an amorphous material in the intercellular spaces after extrusion. At periods, however, when the epithelium is keratinized, membrane-coating granules are of the lamellated type and form a lamellated barrier structure after extrusion in the intercellular space. The loss of the protective keratinized layers asks for an additional defense mechanism for the epithelium. The migration of leukocytes through the epithelium predominantly during post- and metestrus and their presence in the vaginal lumen may play a protective role together with the bacterial content.

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“…In M. domestica, breeding occurs throughout the year, and the estrous cycle is induced by male pheromones [Fadem, 1985[Fadem, , 1987Hinds et al, 1992;Stonerook and Harder, 1992;Harder, 1996, 2000]. On average, the estrous cycle in M. domestica lasts 26.3 days but may vary, showing two main variations, namely an average duration of 14.4 or 32.3 days [Fadem and Rayve, 1985].…”

Section: General Remarksmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ultrastructural Changes in the Cervical Epithelium during the Estrous Cycle of the Marsupial <i>Monodelphis domestica</i> (Grey Short-Tailed Opossum)

Wick

Kress²

2002

Cells Tissues Organs

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Ultrastructural changes in the cervical epithelium related to the estrous cycle have been studied in the South American marsupial Monodelphis domestica. The two cervices protrude with prominent papillae into the sinus vaginalis. At times of simple columnar at others of more pseudostratified character consists of two types of cells, ciliated and secretory cells. The mucosal epithelium is uniform in its entire length and shows no division into an endo- and ectocervix. The mucosa of the cervix differs from the uterine endometrium. There are no glandular structures, but the luminal epithelium shows deep invaginations underlined by dense connective tissue. The most conspicuous changes include the height and the differentiation of the cervical epithelium which attains its maximum development during estrus, where secretory cells are fully packed with large secretory granules and ciliated cells are well developed. After extruding their granules, secretory cells may transform into ciliated cells, while ciliated cells show the phenomenon of deciliation in which cilia packets are shed into the cervical lumen. This transformation process takes place mainly during post- and metestrus. The presence of solitary cilia is only noticeable during pro-estrus, being in contrast to the uterine epithelium where they appear during the whole estrous cycle.

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Sexual Maturation in Female Gray Short-tailed Opossums, Monodeiphis domestica, is Dependent upon Male Stimuli1

Cited by 31 publications

References 17 publications

Vomeronasal Organ Removal Blocks Pheromonal Induction of Estrus in Gray Short-Tailed Opossums (Monodelphis Domestica)1

Vomeronasal Organ Removal Blocks Pheromonal Induction of Estrus in Gray Short-Tailed Opossums (Monodelphis Domestica)1

Changes in the Epithelium of the Vaginal Complex during the Estrous Cycle of the Marsupial <i>Monodelphis domestica</i>

Ultrastructural Changes in the Cervical Epithelium during the Estrous Cycle of the Marsupial <i>Monodelphis domestica</i> (Grey Short-Tailed Opossum)

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