Life Sciences Commons^™

Husbandry Of Monodelphis Domestica In The Study Of Mammalian Embryogenesis, Holly Rousmaniere, Rachel Silverman, Rachel A. White, Mark M. Sasaki, Siobhan D. Wilson, Jeremy T. Morrison, Yolanda P. Cruz

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

Monodelphis domestica, commonly called the laboratory opossum, is a useful laboratory animal for studying marsupial embryogenesis and mammalian development. Females breed year-round and the animals can be sustainably bred indoors. The authors draw on their own laboratory's experience to supplement previously published research on laboratory opossums. They describe a breeding protocol that reliably produces timed-pregnant M. domestica. Additionally, the authors discuss general laboratory opossum husbandry techniques and describe how to collect, handle and culture embryos.