Development of the terminal air spaces in the gray short-tailed opossum (Monodelphis domestica)- 3D reconstruction by microcomputed tomography.

ABSTRACT: Marsupials are born with structurally immature lungs when compared to eutherian mammals. The gray short-tailed opossum (Monodelphis domestica) is born at the late canalicular stage of lung development. Despite the high degree of immaturity, the lung is functioning as respiratory organ, however supported by the skin for gas exchange during the first postnatal days. Consequently, the majority of lung development takes place in ventilated functioning state during the postnatal period. Microcomputed tomography (μCT) was used to three-dimensionally reconstruct the terminal air spaces in order to reveal the timeline of lung morphogenesis. In addition, lung and air space volume as well as surface area were determined to assess the functional relevance of the structural changes in the developing l

SUBMITTER: Ferner K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10871483 | biostudies-literature | 2024

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature