Chapter 9 - Placentation of the Red Panda

Abstract

This chapter focuses on the placenta of red panda. The placentas of red panda have a discoid shape and are quite unlike the completely zonary placenta of raccoons, dogs, and cats. The umbilical cord of red panda afterbirth measures 3.5 cm in length and is only slightly spiralled. The umbilical cord contains two arteries, a vein, and a large allantoic duct. Similar to the cord of raccoon placentas, it contains no omphalomesenteric duct. There are numerous small and capillary blood vessels that are remarkably concentrated around the allantoic duct; some of these smaller vessels had a considerable amount of musculature as is true of many other species, e.g., the dolphin. The allantoic duct is also accompanied by many bundles of smooth muscle; its lining is of urothelial nature. A thin amnion covers the umbilical cord and, in the free amnionic membranes, it is for the most part composed of a thin layer of squamous epithelium on loose connective tissue. The placenta of raccoons falls into the general arrangement of other carnivore placentas, but the placenta of the red panda is found to be quite different from other related canines. The filiform arrangement of villi, for instance, is lacking and the placenta does not have the ring-shaped, zonary form as is seen in numerous other carnivore species. It is rather discoid with a small central sulcus connecting the villous tissue to as trip of membranes perhaps this is the remnant of a former zonary type. The placental findings discussion indicates that there are great similarities between the Ailurus placenta and those of the Mustelidae.