Paper - Contributions to the embryology of the marsupialia 4: Difference between revisions

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:"In mammalian embiyology very many sm-prises are yet in store for us" ([[Embryology History - Ambrosius Hubrecht|Hubrecht]], 08).  
:"In mammalian embiyology very many sm-prises are yet in store for us" ([[Embryology History - Ambrosius Hubrecht|Hubrecht]], 08).  


The present contribution contains an account of the nrincipal results and conclusions at which I have arrived after a  
The present contribution contains an account of the nrincipal results and conclusions at which I have arrived after a somewhat protracted and much interrupted study of an extensive collection of early developmental stages of Marsupials, ranging from the fertilised egg to the blastocyst in which the two primary germ layers are definitely established. I believe I nm now able to give for the first time an account of early Marsupial ontogeny, based on the examination of an adequate material, and both consistent in itself and with Avhat we know of the early development in the other two Mammalian sub-classes. The material at my disposal was obtained during my tenure of office in the University of Sydney, and with the aid of grants from the Royal Society and of a George Heriot Research Fellowship. It represents the proceeds of some eight years’ collecting, and comprises a fairly complete series of stages of the native cat (Dasyurus viverrinus), together with a few early stages of other Marsupials, notably Perameles and Macropus.
somewhat protracted and much interrupted study of an  
extensive collection of early developmental stages of Marsupials, ranging from the fertilised egg to the blastocyst in which  
the two primary germ layers are definitely established. I  
believe I nm now able to give for the first time an account of  
early Marsupial ontogeny, based on the examination of an  
adequate material, and both consistent in itself and with Avhat  
we know of the early development in the other two Mammalian sub-classes. The material at my disposal was obtained  
during my tenure of office in the University of Sydney, and  
with the aid of grants from the Royal Society and of a George  
Heriot Research Fellowship. It represents the proceeds of  
some eight years’ collecting, and comprises a fairly complete  
series of stages of the native cat (Dasyurus viverrinus),  
together with a few early stages of other Marsupials, notably  
Perameles and Macropus.  


Dasyurus proved in many ways a convenient subject for  
Dasyurus proved in many ways a convenient subject for embryological purposes. It can readily be trapped in many WELLCOME NeAv South Wales; it lives and breeds fairly well
embryological purposes. It can readily be trapped in many  
WELLCOME NeAv South Wales; it lives and breeds fairly well  


LIBF’^R’in captb ity, and though always somewhat intractable, it can,  
LIBF’^R’in captb ity, and though always somewhat intractable, it can, its size, be easily handled, and so may be subjected
its size, be easily handled, and so may be subjected  




Coll.  
Coll.


Call  
Call


No.  
No.




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welMOWiW:t<


QL  
QL






THE EARLY DEVELOPMENT OP THE MARSUPIALIA. 3


THE EARLY DEVELOPMENT OP THE MARSUPIALIA. 3
if iiecBSsary to daily exarainationd But it lias this great disadvantage, which it apparently shares with other Marsupials, that a very variable period intervenes between coitus and ovulation. As a consequence, the obtaining of any desired cleavage or early blastocyst stage is largely a matter of chance.^ It is true that the changes which take place in the pouch, in correlation with ovulation and the events connected therewith, do afford in the case of late pregnant females some indication of the stage of development likely to be met with, but these changes are at first of too indefinite a character to be of much service beyond indicating that ovulation may have taken place.


if iiecBSsary to daily exarainationd But it lias this great disadvantage, which it apparently shares with other Marsupials,  
Dasyurus breeds but once a year, the breeding season extending over the winter months - May to August. One remarkable featui'e in the reproduction of Dasyurus, to which I have directed attention in a previous paper (Hill, ’00), may be again referred to here, and that is the fact that there is no correlation between the number of ova shed during ovulation and the accommodation available in the pouch. The normal number of teats present in the latter is six, though the pi-esence of one or two supernumerary teats is not uncommon; the number of ova shed at one period is, as a rule, far in excess of the teat number. I have, for example, several records of the occurrence of from twenty to twenty-five eggs, two of twenty-eight, one of thirty, and one of as many as thirty-five! (twenty-three normal blastocysts and twelve
that a very variable period intervenes between coitus and  
ovulation. As a consequence, the obtaining of any desired
cleavage or early blastocyst stage is largely a matter of  
chance.^ It is true that the changes which take place in the  
pouch, in correlation with ovulation and the events connected
therewith, do afford in the case of late pregnant females some
indication of the stage of development likely to be met with,  
but these changes are at first of too indefinite a character to
be of much service beyond indicating that ovulation may have
taken place.


Dasyurus breeds but once a year, the breeding season
^ Perameles, on the other hand, though quite common in many parts of tlie State, is hy no means such a convenient type. It is much less easily trapped than Dasyurus, does not live nearly so well in captivity, and is pai'ticularly difficiilt to handle. I have to thank Mr. D. G. Stead, now of the Department of Fisheries, Sydney, for first directing my attention to the breeding habits of Dasyurus, and also for providing me with the first female from which I obtained segmenting eggs.
extending over the winter months  -  May to August. One
remarkable featui'e in the reproduction of Dasyurus, to which
I have directed attention in a previous paper (Hill, ’00), may
be again referred to here, and that is the fact that there is no  
correlation between the number of ova shed during ovulation
and the accommodation available in the pouch. The normal
number of teats present in the latter is six, though the
pi-esence of one or two supernumerary teats is not uncommon;
the number of ova shed at one period is, as a rule, far in
excess of the teat number. I have, for example, several
records of the occurrence of from twenty to twenty-five eggs,  
two of twenty-eight, one of thirty, and one of as many as
thirty-five! (twenty-three normal blastocysts and twelve


^ Perameles, on the other hand, though quite common in many parts
^ For example, I obtained unsegmented ova from the uteri, four, five, six, seven and eight days after coitus, 2-celled eggs six and seven days after, 4-celled eggs eleven and eighteen days after. In one case the young were bom eight days after the last observed act of coitus, in another sixteen days after, and in yet another twenty days after.
of tlie State, is hy no means such a convenient type. It is much less
easily trapped than Dasyurus, does not live nearly so well in captivity,  
and is pai'ticularly difficiilt to handle. I have to thank Mr. D. G. Stead,
now of the Department of Fisheries, Sydney, for first directing my
attention to the breeding habits of Dasyurus, and also for providing
me with the first female from which I obtained segmenting eggs.  


^ For example, I obtained unsegmented ova from the uteri, four, five,
six, seven and eight days after coitus, 2-celled eggs six and seven
days after, 4-celled eggs eleven and eighteen days after. In one case
the young were bom eight days after the last observed act of coitus,
in another sixteen days after, and in yet another twenty days after.


4


4


J. P. HILL.


J. P. HILL.


abnormal), there can be little doubt that Dasyurus, like various other Marsupials (e.g. Perameles, Macropus, etc.), has suffered a progressive reduction in the number of young reared, but even making due allowance for that, the excess in production of ova over requii’eraents would still be remarkable enough. Whether this over-production is to be correlated in any way with the occurrence of abnormalities during early development or not, the fact remains that cleavage abnormalities are quite frequently met with in Dasyurus.


abnormal), there can be little doubt that Dasyurus, like
Technique. - As fixatives, I have employed for ovaries the fluids of Hermann, Flemming, Ohlmacher, and Zenker; for ova and early blastocysts, Hermann, Flemming, Perenyi, and especially picro-nitro-osmic acid (picro-nitric acid [Mayer] 96 C.C., 1 per cent, osmic acid 2 c.c., glac. acetic acid 2 c.c.) ; for later blastocysts, the last-named fluid especiall}'^ also picro-corrosive-acetic aud corrosive-acetic.
various other Marsupials (e.g. Perameles, Macropus, etc.),
has suffered a progressive reduction in the number of young
reared, but even making due allowance for that, the excess
in production of ova over requii’eraents would still be remarkable enough. Whether this over-production is to be correlated
in any way with the occurrence of abnormalities during early
development or not, the fact remains that cleavage abnormalities are quite frequently met with in Dasyurus.  


Technique.  -  As fixatives, I have employed for ovaries
To facilitate the handling of ova and early blastocysts during embedding, I found it convenient to attach each specimen separately to a small square of pig’s foetal membrane by means of a dilute solution of photoxylin (1 to 2 per cent.), Orientation of the specimen was then easily effected during final embedding, under the low power of the microscope. The larger blastocysts were double-embedded in photoxylin and paraffin, the cavity of the blastocyst being tensely filled with the photoxylin solution by means of a hypodermic syringe fitted with a fine needle.
the fluids of Hermann, Flemming, Ohlmacher, and Zenker;
for ova and early blastocysts, Hermann, Flemming, Perenyi,
and especially picro-nitro-osmic acid (picro-nitric acid [Mayer]
96 C.C., 1 per cent, osmic acid 2 c.c., glac. acetic acid 2 c.c.) ;
for later blastocysts, the last-named fluid especiall}'^ also
picro-corrosive-acetic aud corrosive-acetic.  


To facilitate the handling of ova and early blastocysts
For the staining of sections, Heidenhain's iron-htematoxylin method proved the most satisfactory, and was almost exclusively employed. Entire portions of the blastocyst wall were stained either with Ehrlich's or Delafield's haematoxylin.
during embedding, I found it convenient to attach each
specimen separately to a small square of pig’s foetal membrane
by means of a dilute solution of photoxylin (1 to 2 per cent.),  
Orientation of the specimen was then easily effected during
final embedding, under the low power of the microscope. The
larger blastocysts were double-embedded in photoxylin and
paraffin, the cavity of the blastocyst being tensely filled with
the photoxylin solution by means of a hypodermic syringe
fitted with a fine needle.  


For the staining of sections, Heidenhain's iron-htematoxylin method proved the most satisfactory, and was almost  exclusively employed. Entire portions of the blastocyst wall were stained either with Ehrlich's or Delafield's haematoxylin.  
I am much indebted to Mr. L. Scbaeffer, of the Anatomical Department of the University of Sydney, and to Mr. F. Pittock, of the Zoological Department, University College, for invaluable assistance in the preparation of the photomicrographs reproduced on Plates 1 - 5, and also to Mr. A. Cronin, of Sydney, and Miss M. Rhodes, for the drawings from their respective pencils reproduced on Plates 6 aud 7. To Miss V. Sheffield I am indebted for tlie original of fig. 63.


I am much indebted to Mr. L. Scbaeffer, of the Anatomical Department of the University of Sydney, and to Mr. F. Pittock, of the Zoological Department, University College, for invaluable assistance in the preparation of the photomicrographs reproduced on Plates 1 - 5, and also to Mr. A. Cronin, of Sydney, and Miss M. Rhodes, for the drawings from their respective pencils reproduced on Plates 6 aud 7. To Miss V. Sheffield I am indebted for tlie original of fig. 63.
To my friend Dr. F. P. Sandes, Sydney, I am indebted for kind help in the revision of certain parts of the manuscript.
 
To my friend Dr. F. P. Sandes, Sydney, I am indebted for kind help in the revision of certain parts of the manuscript.




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Hill JP. The Early Development of the Marsupialia, with Special Reference to the Native Cat (Dasyurus Viverrinus). (1910) Quart. J. Micro. Sci. 56(1): 1-134.

  Contents: 1 Review of Previous Observations | 2 The Ovum of Dasyurus | 3 Cleavage and Blastocyst | 4 Blastocyst Growth Ectoderm Entoderm | 5 Early Stages of Perameles and Macropus | 6 Summary and Conclusions | 7 Early Mammalia Ontogeny | Explanation of Plates
Online Editor  
Eastern quoll
Eastern quoll
Mark Hill.jpg
This historic 1910 paper by James Peter Hill describes marsupial development in the native cat (Dasyurus Viverrinus)



Note that native cat, eastern native cat, are historic names for the eastern quoll Dasyurus Viverrinus (D. viverrinus). The eastern quoll is a medium-sized carnivorous marsupial native to Australia.

  • Dasyurus - "hairy tail"

dasyurid

Modern Notes:

Australian Animal: echidna | kangaroo | koala | platypus | possum | Category:Echidna | Category:Kangaroo | Category:Koala | Category:Platypus | Category:Possum | Category:Marsupial | Category:Monotreme | Development Timetable | K12
Historic Australian Animal  
Historic Embryology: 1834 Early Kangaroo | 1880 Platypus Cochlea | 1887 Monotremata and Marsupialia | 1910 Eastern Quoll | 1915 The Monotreme Skull | 1939 Early Echidna

The Hill Collection contains much histology of echidna and platypus embryonic development.

Embryology History | Historic Disclaimer

Other Marsupials  
Monito del Monte Development | Opossum Development
Historic Disclaimer - information about historic embryology pages 
Mark Hill.jpg
Pages where the terms "Historic" (textbooks, papers, people, recommendations) appear on this site, and sections within pages where this disclaimer appears, indicate that the content and scientific understanding are specific to the time of publication. This means that while some scientific descriptions are still accurate, the terminology and interpretation of the developmental mechanisms reflect the understanding at the time of original publication and those of the preceding periods, these terms, interpretations and recommendations may not reflect our current scientific understanding.     (More? Embryology History | Historic Embryology Papers)

The Early Development of the Marsupialia, with Special Reference to the Native Cat (Dasyurus Viverrinus)

James Peter Hill
James Peter Hill

(Contributions to the Embryology of the Marsupialia, IV.)


By

J. P. Hill, H.Sc.,

Jodrell Professor of Zoology and Comparative Anatomy, University of London, University College.


With Plates 1-9 and 2 Text-figs.


Table of Contents

Introduction

Chapter I. - Critical Review of Previous Observations on the Early Development of Marsupialia

Chapter II. - The Ovum of Dasyurus

1. Structure of Ovarian Ovum . . .11

2. Maturation and Ovulation . . .21

3. Secondary Egg-membranes . . .23

4. Uterine Ovum . . . .25

Chapter III. - Cleavage and Formation of Blastocyst

1. Cleavage . . . . .28

2. Formation of Blastocyst . . .37

Chapter IV. - Growth of Blastocyst and Differentiation OP THE Embryonal Ectoderm and the Entoderm

1. Growth of Blastocyst . . .43


2. Differentiation of the Embryonal Ectoderm and

the Entoderm . . . .52

3. Establishment of the Definitive Embryonal Area 65

4. Summary . . . .72

Chapter V. - Some Early Stages of Perameles and Macropus

Chapter VI. - General Summary and Conclusions

Chapter VII. - The Early Ontogeny of the Mammalia in the Light of the Foregoing Observations

1 . The Early Development of the Prototheria . 86

2. The Early Development of the Metatheria and Eutheria . . . .96

3. The Entypic Condition of the Eutherian Blastocyst .... Ill

Addendum ...... 121

List op References ..... 122

Explanation of Plates


Introduction

"In mammalian embiyology very many sm-prises are yet in store for us" (Hubrecht, 08).

The present contribution contains an account of the nrincipal results and conclusions at which I have arrived after a somewhat protracted and much interrupted study of an extensive collection of early developmental stages of Marsupials, ranging from the fertilised egg to the blastocyst in which the two primary germ layers are definitely established. I believe I nm now able to give for the first time an account of early Marsupial ontogeny, based on the examination of an adequate material, and both consistent in itself and with Avhat we know of the early development in the other two Mammalian sub-classes. The material at my disposal was obtained during my tenure of office in the University of Sydney, and with the aid of grants from the Royal Society and of a George Heriot Research Fellowship. It represents the proceeds of some eight years’ collecting, and comprises a fairly complete series of stages of the native cat (Dasyurus viverrinus), together with a few early stages of other Marsupials, notably Perameles and Macropus.

Dasyurus proved in many ways a convenient subject for embryological purposes. It can readily be trapped in many WELLCOME NeAv South Wales; it lives and breeds fairly well

LIBF’^R’in captb ity, and though always somewhat intractable, it can, its size, be easily handled, and so may be subjected


Coll.

Call

No.


welMOWiW:t<

QL


THE EARLY DEVELOPMENT OP THE MARSUPIALIA. 3

if iiecBSsary to daily exarainationd But it lias this great disadvantage, which it apparently shares with other Marsupials, that a very variable period intervenes between coitus and ovulation. As a consequence, the obtaining of any desired cleavage or early blastocyst stage is largely a matter of chance.^ It is true that the changes which take place in the pouch, in correlation with ovulation and the events connected therewith, do afford in the case of late pregnant females some indication of the stage of development likely to be met with, but these changes are at first of too indefinite a character to be of much service beyond indicating that ovulation may have taken place.

Dasyurus breeds but once a year, the breeding season extending over the winter months - May to August. One remarkable featui'e in the reproduction of Dasyurus, to which I have directed attention in a previous paper (Hill, ’00), may be again referred to here, and that is the fact that there is no correlation between the number of ova shed during ovulation and the accommodation available in the pouch. The normal number of teats present in the latter is six, though the pi-esence of one or two supernumerary teats is not uncommon; the number of ova shed at one period is, as a rule, far in excess of the teat number. I have, for example, several records of the occurrence of from twenty to twenty-five eggs, two of twenty-eight, one of thirty, and one of as many as thirty-five! (twenty-three normal blastocysts and twelve

^ Perameles, on the other hand, though quite common in many parts of tlie State, is hy no means such a convenient type. It is much less easily trapped than Dasyurus, does not live nearly so well in captivity, and is pai'ticularly difficiilt to handle. I have to thank Mr. D. G. Stead, now of the Department of Fisheries, Sydney, for first directing my attention to the breeding habits of Dasyurus, and also for providing me with the first female from which I obtained segmenting eggs.

^ For example, I obtained unsegmented ova from the uteri, four, five, six, seven and eight days after coitus, 2-celled eggs six and seven days after, 4-celled eggs eleven and eighteen days after. In one case the young were bom eight days after the last observed act of coitus, in another sixteen days after, and in yet another twenty days after.


4


J. P. HILL.


abnormal), there can be little doubt that Dasyurus, like various other Marsupials (e.g. Perameles, Macropus, etc.), has suffered a progressive reduction in the number of young reared, but even making due allowance for that, the excess in production of ova over requii’eraents would still be remarkable enough. Whether this over-production is to be correlated in any way with the occurrence of abnormalities during early development or not, the fact remains that cleavage abnormalities are quite frequently met with in Dasyurus.

Technique. - As fixatives, I have employed for ovaries the fluids of Hermann, Flemming, Ohlmacher, and Zenker; for ova and early blastocysts, Hermann, Flemming, Perenyi, and especially picro-nitro-osmic acid (picro-nitric acid [Mayer] 96 C.C., 1 per cent, osmic acid 2 c.c., glac. acetic acid 2 c.c.) ; for later blastocysts, the last-named fluid especiall}'^ also picro-corrosive-acetic aud corrosive-acetic.

To facilitate the handling of ova and early blastocysts during embedding, I found it convenient to attach each specimen separately to a small square of pig’s foetal membrane by means of a dilute solution of photoxylin (1 to 2 per cent.), Orientation of the specimen was then easily effected during final embedding, under the low power of the microscope. The larger blastocysts were double-embedded in photoxylin and paraffin, the cavity of the blastocyst being tensely filled with the photoxylin solution by means of a hypodermic syringe fitted with a fine needle.

For the staining of sections, Heidenhain's iron-htematoxylin method proved the most satisfactory, and was almost exclusively employed. Entire portions of the blastocyst wall were stained either with Ehrlich's or Delafield's haematoxylin.

I am much indebted to Mr. L. Scbaeffer, of the Anatomical Department of the University of Sydney, and to Mr. F. Pittock, of the Zoological Department, University College, for invaluable assistance in the preparation of the photomicrographs reproduced on Plates 1 - 5, and also to Mr. A. Cronin, of Sydney, and Miss M. Rhodes, for the drawings from their respective pencils reproduced on Plates 6 aud 7. To Miss V. Sheffield I am indebted for tlie original of fig. 63.

To my friend Dr. F. P. Sandes, Sydney, I am indebted for kind help in the revision of certain parts of the manuscript.


Historic Disclaimer - information about historic embryology pages 
Mark Hill.jpg
Pages where the terms "Historic" (textbooks, papers, people, recommendations) appear on this site, and sections within pages where this disclaimer appears, indicate that the content and scientific understanding are specific to the time of publication. This means that while some scientific descriptions are still accurate, the terminology and interpretation of the developmental mechanisms reflect the understanding at the time of original publication and those of the preceding periods, these terms, interpretations and recommendations may not reflect our current scientific understanding.     (More? Embryology History | Historic Embryology Papers)

Contents: 1 Review of Previous Observations | 2 The Ovum of Dasyurus | 3 Cleavage and Blastocyst | 4 Blastocyst Growth Ectoderm Entoderm | 5 Early Stages of Perameles and Macropus | 6 Summary and Conclusions | 7 Early Mammalia Ontogeny | Explanation of Plates


Cite this page: Hill, M.A. (2024, March 30) Embryology Paper - Contributions to the embryology of the marsupialia 4. Retrieved from https://embryology.med.unsw.edu.au/embryology/index.php/Paper_-_Contributions_to_the_embryology_of_the_marsupialia_4

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