Hypophysectomy of the tammar wallaby, Macropus eugenii: surgical approach and general effects

A technique of hypophysectomy and regimes of pre- and post-operative care were developed for the tammar wallaby, Macropus eugenii, to a stage when animals can survive the operation with little apparent stress. Thyroid and adrenal gland weights declined after hypophysectomy, especially within the first 20-30 days. Changes in the adrenal cortex after hypophysectomy suggested that this region may have a zonal organization different from that in eutherian mammals. The reproductive tracts of males and females lost weight rapidly after hypophysectomy. Eleven plasma parameters were studied for the effects of hypophysectomy. There was a reduction in sodium and chloride and a tendency to higher potassium levels, reflecting inadequate adrenal cortical function. Calcium and total protein values remained unaffected, but inorganic phosphate, glucose and cholesterol were depleted, and a less significant depletion in blood urea, nitrogen and uric acid was evident.