RESUMO
The purpose of this study was to characterize cytogenesis and apoptosis in the developing retina of the Brazilian opossum, Monodelphis domestica. Monodelphis is a small pouchless marsupial whose young undergo a protracted period of postnatal development. Moreover, the Monodelphis retina represents a unique in vivo compartment for investigating cellular interactions that occur during early neural development and is an important system to study plasticity of neural stem cells following transplantation. Using bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) labeling of newly generated cells, double-labeling immunohistochemistry and TUNEL labeling of apoptotic cells we have performed a detailed analysis of cell birth and death in the Monodelphis retina from fetal development through early postnatal life. Pregnant opossums or pups received a single injection of BrdU between gestational day 12 and postnatal day 35 (35PN), eyes were collected two hours after injection or on day 15, 30, or 60 of postnatal life. BrdU-labeled cells were visualized immunohistochemically. Cells were classified according to their morphology, location and immunoreactivity for cell-type specific antibodies. Cell genesis in the opossum retina begins at E13 and was near completion by 25PN. Apoptotic retinal cells were identified using the TUNEL technique for labeling of fragmented DNA. Apoptosis covered a relatively broad period of postnatal development, beginning around 10PN, peaking at 30PN, and concluding before 60PN. These results demonstrate that the retina of Monodelphis, a polyprotodont marsupial, is generated in a similar pattern to the wallaby, a diprotodont marsupial, and to eutherian species.