Development of the Digestive System in the North American Opossum (Didelphis virginiana)

William J. Krause

ISBN 10: 3540551492 / ISBN 13: 9783540551492

Published by Springer, Berlin, Springer Berlin Heidelberg, Springer, 1992

About this Item

Neuware - 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).

Seller Inventory # 9783540551492

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Development of the Digestive System in the North American Opossum (Didelphis virginiana)
• Publisher: Springer, Berlin, Springer Berlin Heidelberg, Springer
• Publication Date: 1992
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 3540551492
• ISBN 13: 9783540551492
• Binding: Taschenbuch
• Condition: Neu
• Dimensions: 242W x 165H x 8D millimeters 242 millimeters width by 165 millimeters height by 8 millimeters depth
• Weight: 365 grams

About this title

Synopsis

This volume reviews and integrates all published morphological, developmental and quantitative data concerned with the digestive system of the North American opossum, Didelphis virginiana. The review emphasizes the developmental interrelationships between the epithelial lining of the developing digestive system and its associated intrinsic and extrinsic glands. Pre and postnatal developmental events for the entire digestive system are discussed and presented unter seven separate headings: oral cavity, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, colon, pancreas and liver.