title: Glycosaminoglycans of the uterine and vaginal cul-de-sac tissue in the brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula).
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Legge
authors.forename: B L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Hill
authors.forename: G H
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Shackell
authors.forename: B J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: McLeod
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004343:Drug Implants; D005260:Female; D006025:Glycosaminoglycans / Q000032:analysis*; D006064:Gonadotropins, Equine / Q000494:pharmacology; D007632:Keratan Sulfate / Q000032:analysis; D009893:Opossums / Q000378:metabolism*; D011282:Pregnenediones / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D045167:Progesterone Congeners / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D014599:Uterus / Q000737:chemistry*; D014621:Vagina / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D004343:Drug Implants; D006025:Glycosaminoglycans; D006064:Gonadotropins, Equine; D011282:Pregnenediones; D045167:Progesterone Congeners; C100284:norgestomet; D007632:Keratan Sulfate