Successful embryo transfer in a small dasyurid marsupial, Sminthopsis crassicaudata.
A technique for the transfer of early embryos from the uterus of donors to recipient females of a small dasyurid marsupial, Sminthopsis crassicaudata , is described. When the recipients were killed 3 to 5 d later, a few expanded blastocysts were found to be present in the uteri of most of the females provided that corpora lutea were present in the ovaries. This study demonstrates successful embryo transfer in a small marsupial species and supports the view that secretion of the endometrium due to luteal activity may be necessary for development of the expanded unilaminar blastocyst stage.
Breed
W G
WG
Department of Anatomy and Histology, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia 5005, Australia.
Leigh
C M
CM