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The presence of an additional fetal membrane and its function in the newborn guanaco (Lama quanacoë )
THERIOGENOLOGY
THE PRESENCE OF AN ADDITIONAL PRTAL NBMBRANE AND ITS FUNCTION IN THE NEWBORN GUANACO (Lama quanacoe)
H. t4erkt.lM. Boer,* D. Rath and H-A. Schoon3
1 Department of Andrology and Artificial Insemination, Veterinary College, D-3000 Hannover 1, PRG * Zoological Garden, D-3000 Hannover 1, PRG 3 Department of Pathology, Veterinary College, D-3000 Hannover 1, PRG
Received for publication: November 18, I.987 Accepted: July 15, 1988
ABSTRACT The newborn guanaco (Lama quanacoi) is covered by an extra fetal membrane. It shares this characteristic with the newborns of old-world camelids. This membrane, which is lubricated by the watery amnionic fluid typical Eor camelids, facilitates the delivery of the conceptus. the newborn gets rid of this membrane itself, since in camelids mothers do not lick their oEEsprings. Key words:
extra Eetal membrane, guanaco, camelids, postparturient behavior
INTRODUCTION The existence of an extra fetal membrane in the one-humped camel (Camelus dromedarius; 1) and in the two-humped Bactrian camel (2,3) has been described. In the one-humped camel, this membrane is detectable in fetuses with a crown rump length of 41 cm or more. This membrane encases the entire Eetal body. It is attached to the lips, the junctions of the epidermis with the nasal mucus membranes, the anus, the vagina or prepuce, the teat orifices, the umbilical ring and the coronary bands of the hooves. This membrane appears to be an epidermal product from the basal layers of the epidermis. When moistened, it becomes very slippery (1). In camels, the amniotic fluid remains watery throughout the gestation period. This is in sharp contrast to the amniotic fluids of cattle and horses, which become mucoid towards the end of term to facilitate delivery (4). It has been assumed that in camels the extra fetal membrane, which has also been called the "epithelion" (3). facilitates delivery by providing lubrication when it is moistened with amniotic fluid (4). The purpose of this report is to describe a similar epithelial fetal membrane in the guanaco. a South American camelide.
SEPTEMBER
1988 VOL.
30 NO. 3
437
THERIOGENOLOGY
Figure
1. The eosin
stained
membrane floating
in a water bath.
Figure 2. Nearly complete keratinized stratiEied squamous epithelial cells, with partially condensed nuclei. (240x magnification)
438
SEPTEMBER
1988 VOL.
30 NO. 3
THERIOGENOLOGY
MATERIALSANDMETHOD In July 1987 a parturition was closely observed in a guanaco (u guanacoi) to verify the existence of such an additional fetal membrane in this species. The mother was kept separately from a guanaco herd at the Hannover Zoo. RESULTSANDDISCUSSION The conceptus was delivered without complications or assistance. The newborn animal was completely covered with a transparent membrane that remained slippery and nearly invisible while wet. New-born lamas are known to roll on the ground, and this newborn lama behaved similarly, obviously to get rid of this membraneous cover. The membrane slid down around the legs beEore being shed completely_ Attempts to photograph the membrane while floating it in water failed until it was stained with eosin (Figure 1). Histological evaluation revealed almost completely keratinized and stratified squamous epithelial cells, which still showed partially highly condensed nuclei (Figure 2). Unlike other species, the lama dam does not lick its newborn. Thus the oEEspring’s peculiar rolling around on the ground is a specific behavioral trait of the newborn of this species and is designed to free the offspring from this extra fetal membrane. These functional and behavioral traits of mother and oEEspring are shared with all other new-world camelids such as lama, vicuna and alpaca, as observations of approximately 20 deliveries involving all Another observation from these four species at the Hannover Zoo indicate. occasions seems noteworthy: camelids generally seem not to be interested in their placenta. One never sees the camelid mother sniffing, licking or eating the afterbirth. Based on all our observations new-world camelids share characteristic morphological and behavioral traits with old-world camelids (l-4). REFERENCES 1. Musa, B.E. A new epidermal camel (Camelus dromedarius). 6:355-358 (1977).
membrane associated with the foetus of the Zb. Vet. Med. C Anat. Histol. Rmbryol.
2. Chen, B.X. and Xuen, Z.X. Reproductive pattern of the Bactrian camel. &I: W.R. Cockrill (ed.). The Camelid. An All-Purpose Animal. Vol. I. Stand. Inst. Afric. Studies, Uppsala, Sweden, 1984, pp. 364-369. 3. Vasilleva, of camels.
L.P., Shapilow, A.P. and Baimukhambetov, D. Soviet Agric. Sci. ,:55-57 (1984).
Fetal membranes
4. Musa, B.E. and Abu Sineina, ME. Studies on the full term Eoetal membranes of the three members of the Camilidae. J. Anat. (London) %:200-209 (1976).
SEPTEMBER
1988 VOL.
30 NO. 3
439
THE PRESENCE OF AN ADDITIONAL PRTAL NBMBRANE AND ITS FUNCTION IN THE NEWBORN GUANACO (Lama quanacoe)
H. t4erkt.lM. Boer,* D. Rath and H-A. Schoon3
1 Department of Andrology and Artificial Insemination, Veterinary College, D-3000 Hannover 1, PRG * Zoological Garden, D-3000 Hannover 1, PRG 3 Department of Pathology, Veterinary College, D-3000 Hannover 1, PRG
Received for publication: November 18, I.987 Accepted: July 15, 1988
ABSTRACT The newborn guanaco (Lama quanacoi) is covered by an extra fetal membrane. It shares this characteristic with the newborns of old-world camelids. This membrane, which is lubricated by the watery amnionic fluid typical Eor camelids, facilitates the delivery of the conceptus. the newborn gets rid of this membrane itself, since in camelids mothers do not lick their oEEsprings. Key words:
extra Eetal membrane, guanaco, camelids, postparturient behavior
INTRODUCTION The existence of an extra fetal membrane in the one-humped camel (Camelus dromedarius; 1) and in the two-humped Bactrian camel (2,3) has been described. In the one-humped camel, this membrane is detectable in fetuses with a crown rump length of 41 cm or more. This membrane encases the entire Eetal body. It is attached to the lips, the junctions of the epidermis with the nasal mucus membranes, the anus, the vagina or prepuce, the teat orifices, the umbilical ring and the coronary bands of the hooves. This membrane appears to be an epidermal product from the basal layers of the epidermis. When moistened, it becomes very slippery (1). In camels, the amniotic fluid remains watery throughout the gestation period. This is in sharp contrast to the amniotic fluids of cattle and horses, which become mucoid towards the end of term to facilitate delivery (4). It has been assumed that in camels the extra fetal membrane, which has also been called the "epithelion" (3). facilitates delivery by providing lubrication when it is moistened with amniotic fluid (4). The purpose of this report is to describe a similar epithelial fetal membrane in the guanaco. a South American camelide.
SEPTEMBER
1988 VOL.
30 NO. 3
437
THERIOGENOLOGY
Figure
1. The eosin
stained
membrane floating
in a water bath.
Figure 2. Nearly complete keratinized stratiEied squamous epithelial cells, with partially condensed nuclei. (240x magnification)
438
SEPTEMBER
1988 VOL.
30 NO. 3
THERIOGENOLOGY
MATERIALSANDMETHOD In July 1987 a parturition was closely observed in a guanaco (u guanacoi) to verify the existence of such an additional fetal membrane in this species. The mother was kept separately from a guanaco herd at the Hannover Zoo. RESULTSANDDISCUSSION The conceptus was delivered without complications or assistance. The newborn animal was completely covered with a transparent membrane that remained slippery and nearly invisible while wet. New-born lamas are known to roll on the ground, and this newborn lama behaved similarly, obviously to get rid of this membraneous cover. The membrane slid down around the legs beEore being shed completely_ Attempts to photograph the membrane while floating it in water failed until it was stained with eosin (Figure 1). Histological evaluation revealed almost completely keratinized and stratified squamous epithelial cells, which still showed partially highly condensed nuclei (Figure 2). Unlike other species, the lama dam does not lick its newborn. Thus the oEEspring’s peculiar rolling around on the ground is a specific behavioral trait of the newborn of this species and is designed to free the offspring from this extra fetal membrane. These functional and behavioral traits of mother and oEEspring are shared with all other new-world camelids such as lama, vicuna and alpaca, as observations of approximately 20 deliveries involving all Another observation from these four species at the Hannover Zoo indicate. occasions seems noteworthy: camelids generally seem not to be interested in their placenta. One never sees the camelid mother sniffing, licking or eating the afterbirth. Based on all our observations new-world camelids share characteristic morphological and behavioral traits with old-world camelids (l-4). REFERENCES 1. Musa, B.E. A new epidermal camel (Camelus dromedarius). 6:355-358 (1977).
membrane associated with the foetus of the Zb. Vet. Med. C Anat. Histol. Rmbryol.
2. Chen, B.X. and Xuen, Z.X. Reproductive pattern of the Bactrian camel. &I: W.R. Cockrill (ed.). The Camelid. An All-Purpose Animal. Vol. I. Stand. Inst. Afric. Studies, Uppsala, Sweden, 1984, pp. 364-369. 3. Vasilleva, of camels.
L.P., Shapilow, A.P. and Baimukhambetov, D. Soviet Agric. Sci. ,:55-57 (1984).
Fetal membranes
4. Musa, B.E. and Abu Sineina, ME. Studies on the full term Eoetal membranes of the three members of the Camilidae. J. Anat. (London) %:200-209 (1976).
SEPTEMBER
1988 VOL.
30 NO. 3
439