Achado histopatológico de lipidose hepática em fetos de gambá (Didelphis sp.) lactantes

Abstract

Opossums (Didelphis sp.) Are highly reproducible marsupials, have a gestation period of approximately 12 days and extensive lactation. Fetuses receive high levels of carbohydrates and lipids from the mother during lactation. The objective of this work was describe the macro and microscopic morphology of the livers of opossum fetuses (Didelphis sp.) at different stages of their postnatal development. An old animal (5 days, 15 days, 22 days and 35 days) for macroscopic and microscopic verification of liver structures and consequent comparison with other domestic species. The animals' livers were processed and included by paraffin embedding techniques. Each block was cut and the sections were stained with HE, picrosirius, PAS histochemical reaction with hematoxylin, toluidine blue and Masson's trichrome to observe the hepatic structures. The macro and microscopic results indicate a premature development of the species in the fetal stage, similar to domestic animals and interestingly there is presence of hepatic lipidosis in all animals.