Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Oogenesis02:07

Oogenesis

71.1K
In human women, oogenesis produces one mature egg cell or ovum for every precursor cell that enters meiosis. This process differs in two unique ways from the equivalent procedure of spermatogenesis in males. First, meiotic divisions during oogenesis are asymmetric, meaning that a large oocyte (containing most of the cytoplasm) and minor polar body are produced as a result of meiosis I, and again following meiosis II. Since only oocytes will go on to form embryos if fertilized, this unequal...
71.1K
Toxicity Testing in Animals01:23

Toxicity Testing in Animals

124
Toxicity tests in animals are grounded on two main assumptions: first, the effects observed in laboratory animals can be extrapolated to humans, especially when adjusted for body surface area; second, high-dose exposure in animals is essential to identify potential human hazards from lower doses. This is based on the quantal dose-response concept, which faces the challenge of extrapolating results from relatively few test animals to much larger human populations. For example, a 0.01% incidence...
124

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Assessing metal concentrations in muscle tissue of blacktip sharks (Carcharhinus limbatus) from coastal Maryland compared to the Florida Peninsula.

Marine pollution bulletin·2025
Same author

Temporal and Spatial Changes in Water Quality and Phytoplankton Populations in the Lower St. Johns River, Florida.

Archives of environmental contamination and toxicology·2025
Same author

Behavioral and molecular effects of micro and nanoplastics across three plastic types in fish: weathered microfibers induce a similar response to nanosized particles.

Frontiers in toxicology·2024
Same author

Mercury and Selenium Accumulation in the Tissues of Stranded Bottlenose Dolphins (<i>Tursiops truncatus</i>) in Northeast Florida, 2013-2021.

Animals : an open access journal from MDPI·2024
Same author

Microplastics: A potential booster for PFAS in biosolids.

Integrated environmental assessment and management·2024
Same author

Seroprevalence of Leprosy in Nine-Banded Armadillos (Dasypus novemcinctus) from Tennessee, USA, 2021-22.

Journal of wildlife diseases·2024

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 21, 2026

Use of Autometallography to Localize and Semi-Quantify Silver in Cetacean Tissues
07:05

Use of Autometallography to Localize and Semi-Quantify Silver in Cetacean Tissues

Published on: October 4, 2018

7.7K

Metal accumulation in wild-caught opossum.

J Mitchell Lockhart1, Samreen Siddiqui1, W J Loughry1

  • 1Department of Biology, Valdosta State University, 1500 North Patterson St, Valdosta, GA, 31698, USA.

Environmental Monitoring and Assessment
|May 4, 2016
PubMed
Summary

The Virginia opossum (Didelphis virginiana) liver tissue shows high metal concentrations, varying by year, sex, and location. This study provides a baseline for opossum bioindicator research.

Keywords:
ArmadilloCopperDasypus novemcinctusDidelphis virginianaLeadNickelSeleniumZinc

More Related Videos

Systematic Assessment of Mammalian Skull Specimens for Dental and Temporomandibular Joint Pathology
07:26

Systematic Assessment of Mammalian Skull Specimens for Dental and Temporomandibular Joint Pathology

Published on: August 22, 2022

2.0K
Necropsy-based Wild Fish Health Assessment
07:57

Necropsy-based Wild Fish Health Assessment

Published on: September 11, 2018

18.3K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Mar 21, 2026

Use of Autometallography to Localize and Semi-Quantify Silver in Cetacean Tissues
07:05

Use of Autometallography to Localize and Semi-Quantify Silver in Cetacean Tissues

Published on: October 4, 2018

7.7K
Systematic Assessment of Mammalian Skull Specimens for Dental and Temporomandibular Joint Pathology
07:26

Systematic Assessment of Mammalian Skull Specimens for Dental and Temporomandibular Joint Pathology

Published on: August 22, 2022

2.0K
Necropsy-based Wild Fish Health Assessment
07:57

Necropsy-based Wild Fish Health Assessment

Published on: September 11, 2018

18.3K

Area of Science:

  • Environmental Toxicology
  • Wildlife Ecology
  • Mammalian Physiology

Background:

  • The Virginia opossum (Didelphis virginiana) frequently contacts soil, suggesting potential as a bioindicator for terrestrial chemical contamination.
  • Despite their ecological role, toxicology studies on opossums are notably scarce.
  • This research addresses the knowledge gap by analyzing metal contaminants in opossum liver tissues.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To conduct the first comprehensive analysis of metal contaminant concentrations in Virginia opossum liver tissues.
  • To investigate potential differences in metal accumulation based on age, sex, year, and geographic location.
  • To establish a foundational dataset for understanding metal burdens in Didelphis virginiana.

Main Methods:

  • Liver samples from 471 Virginia opossums collected between 2003-2006 across North Florida and South Georgia were analyzed.
  • Concentrations of key metals, including copper (Cu), lead (Pb), nickel (Ni), selenium (Se), and zinc (Zn), were quantified.
  • Statistical analyses were performed to assess variations in metal concentrations by age, sex, year, and site.

Main Results:

  • No significant age-related differences in metal concentrations were observed.
  • Significant variations in metal concentrations were detected across years, between sexes, and among collection sites for most metals.
  • Opossum liver metal concentrations (Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn) were generally higher than those found in nine-banded armadillos from the same regions and time periods.

Conclusions:

  • This study presents the initial quantification of metal accumulation in Didelphis virginiana livers, highlighting significant temporal and spatial variability.
  • While metal concentrations appear elevated compared to other small mammals, the direct link to toxicity in opossums remains undetermined.
  • The findings provide a crucial starting point for future research into opossums as bioindicators of environmental metal contamination.