A LABORATORY MARSUPIAL FOR BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH

The overall objectives are to develop a small marsupial, Monodelphis
domestica, as an economical laboratory animal for biomedical research and
to make the animal and techniques for its experimental manipulation readily
accessible to other investigators. The specific aims are to develop an
optimal diet for the species, to simplify husbandry procedures, to identify
genetic markers for research and management purposes, to progress in
developing inbred strains, and to provide animals, on site research
facilities, and technical expertise to other investigators. Age-matched
animals will be placed in four dietary groups and assessed for growth
rates, reproductive performance, and general health characteristics over
two generations. In an attempt to simplify husbandry procedures, we will
study matched pairs of animals in the presence or absence of next boxes in
order to determine if nest boxes are effective in reducing aggressive
behavior and enhancing reproductive performance. Genetic markers will be
identified and characterized by electrophoretic methods. Whereas some
animals will be maintained as a non-inbred stock in which genetic
variability is maximally preserved, others will be used for developing
inbred strains by full-sib matings. Animals, biological materials from
them, and information regarding their management and experimental
manipulation will be provided to other investigators upon request and by
publication, and local and visiting scientists will be encouraged to use
our resource for on site collaborative research. The popularity of M. domestica as an animal model for research in
developmental biology, physiology, gene regulation, and other
health-related fields, is continuing to increase rapidly. Our resource is
by far the largest marsupial colony in the world. It is unique also in
being the only marsupial colony committed to the development of husbandry
and experimental procedures for this species, to genetic management of the
species in captivity, to assisting visiting scientists who would not
otherwise be able to pursue their research interests efficiently, and to
providing animals and biological material from them to investigators at
other institutions. We expect that our efforts will continue to play a
critical role in the burgeoning use of M. domestica as an animal model in
biomedical research.