William J Krause - Böcker

The North American opossum (Didelphis virginiana) generally is regarded as an important animal, phylogenetically. It is considered to represent a prototype marsupial and closely resembles fossil didelphids (Tyndale-Biscoe 1973). Numerous studies concerning the reproductive biology, embryology, and neurobiology of the opossum have been published. More recently, Didelphis has become popular as an animal model for gastroenterological studies because of the remarkable anatomical and physiological similarities of the esophagus as compared to that of man. Most of the studies of early development have concentrated on early cleavage stages and the formation of the three primary germ layers (Hartman 1916, 1919) and fetal membranes (Selenka 1887; McCrady 1938). The ova of Didelphis remain in the oviduct only for about 24 h before entering the uterus. A corona radiata is absent and each oocyte is surrounded only by a perivitel- line space and a zona pellucida (Talbot and DiCarlantonio 1984). During the short transit period, the egg is fertilized by a single spermatozoon (Rodger and Bedford 1982a,b).

This is a review of the pre- and postnatal development in the North American opossum (Didelphis virginiana), presented in two volumes. This second volume summarizes the histogenesis/organogenesis of the respiratory, digestive, urinary, male and female reproductive and classical endocrine systems. Volume I summarizes gametes and fertilization, blastocyst formation and early organogenesis, foetal membranes and placentation, parturition and migration to the pouch, general postnatal growth development and histogenesis/organogenesis of the integument, musculoskeletal system, cardiovascular system, blood and blood-forming organs, lymphatic organs, nervous system, eyes and ears.