霍野 晋吉 
えっ、膣に膜が・・・
一部のげっ歯類では、発情期と分娩期を除く期間は膣口が膜で閉鎖します。ヌートリア〔Felipe et al.2001〕、モルモット〔Hunter et al.1969〕、チンチラ〔Weir 1970,Busso et al.2006〕、パカ〔Guimarães et al.2008〕、アグーチ類〔Weir 1971,Weir 1974,Kleiman 1970〕などで報告され、この膣閉塞膜の存在により、他のげっ歯類において行われる膣垢検査によっての性周期の検査を不可能にします。膜の存在の理由は詳細には分かっていませんが、細菌感染を防ぐ、乱婚的な交配を防ぐとか言われています。
参考文献
- Busso JM,Florit E,Ponzio MF,Fiol de Cuneo M,Ruiz RD.Identificación de la “ventana de fertilidad” mediante monitoreo estral no invasivo en chinchilla.[Noninvasive monitoring of estral cycles in chinchilla: Identification of fertile periods].In Proceedings of the XXII Congreso Latinoamericano y 1er Iberoamericano de Ciencias Fisiológicas. Sociedad Argentina de Fisiologia:Buenos Aires;2006 Estrus Cycle Monitoring in Wild Mammals:Challenges and Perspectives http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.69444 39
- Felipe AE,Cabodevila J,Callejas S.Characterization of the estrous cycle of the Myocastor coypus (coypu) by means of exfoliative colpocytology. Mastozoología Neotropical/Journal of Neotropical Mammalogy8:129-137.2001
- Guimarães,DA,Bastos LV,Ferreira ACS,Luz-Ramos RS,Ohashi OM,Ribeiro HL.Características reprodutivas da paca fêmea(Agouti paca)criada em cativeiro.Acta Amazônica38:531-538.2008
- Hunter RHF,Hunt DM,Chang MC.Temporal and cytological aspects of fertilization and early development in the guinea pig,Cavia porcellus.The Anatomical Record165:411-430.1969
- Kleiman D.Reproduction in the female green Acouchi,Myoprocta pratti Pocock.Journal of Reproduction and Fertility23:55-65.1970
- Reynolds TJ,Wright JW.Early postnatalphysical and behavioural development of degus (Octodon degus).Lab Anim13(2):93-9.1979
- Weir B.Some observations on reproduction in the female agouti (Dasyprocta agouti).Journal of Reproduction and Fertility24:203-211.1971
- Weir B.Reproductive characteristics of hystricomorph rodents.Symposia of the Zoological Society of London34:265-301.1974
- Weir BJ.Chinchilla.In Reproduction and Breeding Techniques for Laboratory Animals.Hafez ESE ed.Lea and Febiger:209-223.1970