Peri-gastrulation development of the dasyurid marsupial Sminthopsis macroura (stripe-Faced dunnart) in vitro and evidence for patterning of the epiblast prior to gastrulation

Abstract

Marsupials are potentially excellent models for the study of gastrulation because of their superficial embryonic area (EA), post-gastrulation implantation and their potential to provide information about the evolution of gastrulation. Very few studies have examined this developmental period in marsupials. Using an established developmental timetable, peri-gastrula stage Sminthopsis macroura blastocysts were collected and described in detail by observations on live blastocysts and by the use of histological and immunohistochemical techniques on fixed blastocysts. Gastrulation in S. macroura shares several aspects common to that of both eutherian mammals and birds, but in terms of tissue arran..