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Postnatal development of the skin of the marsupial native cat Dasyurus hallucatus
Author(s) -
Pralomkarn T.,
Nelson J.,
Gemmell R. T.
Publication year - 1990
Publication title -
journal of morphology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.652
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1097-4687
pISSN - 0362-2525
DOI - 10.1002/jmor.1052050210
Subject(s) - biology , marsupial , epidermis (zoology) , lactation , weaning , nest (protein structural motif) , zoology , sebaceous gland , post partum , anatomy , physiology , pregnancy , endocrinology , biochemistry , genetics
Skin development of the Northern native cat was examined from birth to weaning at 150 days post partum. An outer layer of cells, termed the periderm or epitrichium , is present on the epidermis of the newborn. This layer of cells is not discernible at 7 days post partum. Skin development of the native cat differs from that of the eutherian mammal. The periderm of the eutherian is no longer discernible when the developing hairs first penetrate the epidermis. In the marsupial, this loss of the periderm occurs well before the appearance of follicles. Melanocytes and Langerhans cells are seen at day 23 post partum, follicles at day 30, sebaceous glands at day 59, and sweat glands at day 67. Thus, when the mother first leaves her young in the nest at about days 60 to 70 of lactation, the skin is at a stage of development that will assist the young with thermoregulation. The skin continues to develop throughout lactation and attains an adult appearance by day 150 post partum.