Pituitary—ovarian interactions in marsupials

摘要

The study of pituitary–ovarian interactions in marsupials is still in its infancy. Members of only two species, American opossum and tammar wallaby (Didel-phis virginiana and Macropus eugenii), have been hypophysectomized; and only in the latter has the effect on reproductive functions been examined and have pituitary hormones been measured (Hearn, 1974, 1975b). Apart from this species, all ideas about pituitary function in marsupial reproduction are infe-rences based on eutherian analogies; and the results from the tammar have taught us to be cautious about drawing such inferences.