The immune response and fertility of koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus) immunised with porcine zonae pellucidae or recombinant brushtail possum ZP3 protein.

To evaluate the potential contraceptive effect of immunisation with zona pellucida antigens, 50 free-ranging koalas were immunised with either porcine zonae pellucidae (PZP), recombinant brushtail possum ZP3 (recBP-ZP3) or buffer, in complete Freund's adjuvant. A single booster immunisation in incomplete Freund's adjuvant was administered 3-5 months later. Where possible animals were recaptured, reproductive status was assessed and blood was collected at 1-3-month intervals for the next 33 months.

Effects of repeated superovulation and surgical oocyte collection on ovarian response and natural breeding ability of the tammar wallaby (Macropus eugenii).

The aim of this study was to assess the response of a marsupial, the tammar wallaby (Macropus eugenii) to repeated superovulation and surgical oocyte collection and monitor any effects on subsequent natural breeding ability. Animals (n = 5 per group) were superovulated once, twice or three times with pig FSH (pFSH; 6 mg administered twice per day for 4 days) followed by 4 mg pig LH (pLH). There was an interval of either 5-6 weeks (n = 9) or 12 weeks (n = 1) between the first and second superovulation and 13-17 weeks (n = 5) between the second and third superovulation.

Expression in Escherichia coli and immunological characterization of three zona pellucida proteins (ZP1, ZP2, and ZP3) from a marsupial, the brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula).

The brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula) zona pellucida (ZP) is composed of three major glycoproteins, designated ZP1, ZP2, and ZP3 based on their size and homology with eutherian ZP proteins. These proteins are candidate antigens for the development of an immunocontraceptive vaccine to control the fertility of the brushtail possum in New Zealand, where it is an introduced pest. In order to further their immunological and functional characterization, recombinant possum ZP proteins were produced in Escherichia coli (E.

Timing and regulatory aspects of oocyte maturation in vitro in the tammar wallaby (Macropus eugenii).

Oocytes from a marsupial, the tammar wallaby (Macropus eugenii), resemble those of eutherian mammals in their ability to resume meiosis in vitro when cultured under suitable conditions. Culture for 42-48 h in Eagle's minimum essential medium (EMEM) supplemented with 10% fetal calf serum, and 10 microg mL(-1) porcine luteinizing hormone (pLH) was required in order for oocytes, collected from the large antral follicles (> 2 mm diameter) of tammar wallabies (primed with 6 mg of porcine follicle stimulating hormone twice daily for four days), to proceed to metaphase II (MII) of meiosis. Under these conditions, chromatin condensation was observed within 4-8 h of culture in 61% of oocytes; metaphase I (MI) chromosomes were observed from 18-30 h of culture (66%); and most oocytes (76%) progressed to MII by 42 h in vitro.

Cytogenetic study of a nodular hyperplasia of the thyroid after irradiation for Hodgkin's disease.

We describe cytogenetics of a case of nodular hyperplasia of the thyroid with papillary microcarcinoma following radiotherapy for Hodgkin's disease. The chromosomal pattern found was very heterogeneous with a clonal abnormality of chromosome 10, among others. Together with some recent data from the literature, this finding may point to an important role of chromosome 10 abnormalities in the pathogenesis of benign and malignant thyroid neoplasms.