
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Legge, M 
A1  - Hill, BL 
A1  - Shackell, GH 
A1  - McLeod, BJ 
T1  - Glycosaminoglycans of the uterine and vaginal cul-de-sac tissue in the brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula)
JF  - Reproduction, Fertility and Development
JO  - Reprod. Fertil. Dev.
Y1  - 1996
VL  - 8
IS  - 4
SP  - 819
EP  - 823
KW  - 
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1071/RD9960819 
N2  - Live-captured feral brushtail possums (Trichosurus vulpecula) received slow-release progestagen implants for 16 days after removal of pouch young. At the time of implant removal one group was injected intramuscularly with pregnant mare serum gonadotrophin (PMSG, 2 I.U. kg-1 in 0.2 mL saline) and another group received an equivalent volume of sterile saline. Animals from each group were killed on Days 0, 3, 4, 5 or 6 after implant removal (PMSG, n = 4 per day; saline controls, n = 3 per day). The uterus and vaginal cul-de-sac were excised and tissue was analysed for glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) and keratan sulfate content. GAG concentration increased progressively over the six-day period following implant removal. Mean uterine GAG concentrations were significantly higher than those in vaginal cul-de-sac from Day 3 to Day 6 in PMSG-treated and saline-treated animals following progestagen implant removal (P < 0.05). Keratan sulfate concentrations showed a similar response--concentrations were higher in uterine tissue than in vaginal cul-de-sac tissue and PMSG-treated animals showed a greater response than did saline controls in the uterine tissue, but the same response in cul-de-sac tissue (P < 0.05 for all groups). The progressive increase in GAG concentrations of reproductive tract tissue following removal of the progesterone implant is indicative of hormonal stimulation and suggests that GAGs may have a supportive role in gamete and embryo nutrition and growth in the brushtail possum. 
ER  -

