1
|
Bueno LM, Soares EM, Ferraz JF, Santiago CS, Comelis-Martins MT, Taboga SR, Morielle-Versute E, Beguelini MR. Testicular regression and recrudescence in the bat Eptesicus furinalis: Morpho-physiological variations and hormonal signaling pathways. Anat Rec (Hoboken) 2024; 307:2875-2890. [PMID: 38095144 DOI: 10.1002/ar.25369] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2023] [Revised: 11/29/2023] [Accepted: 11/30/2023] [Indexed: 07/04/2024]
Abstract
Males of the bat Eptesicus furinalis show at least one process of testicular regression, in which the testes regress and temporarily interrupt the production of sperm, during its annual reproductive cycle. As the process of spermatogenesis is under hormonal control, mainly of pituitary and androgen hormones, our aim was to analyze the morphological variations and the hormonal control of the testes of E. furinalis during the four phases of its reproductive cycle. Testes of 18 adult males, divided into four sample groups (active, regressing, regressed, and recrudescence phases), were submitted to morphological, morphometric, and immunohistochemical analyzes. The results demonstrate that the processes of testicular regression and recrudescence of E. furinalis are under the control of pituitary, androgen and estrogen hormones. The regulation is exerted mainly through the activation and cross signaling of AR and FSHR in Sertoli cells and of LHR in Leydig cells. The testicular regression appears to be activated by an inhibition/reduction of AR expression in Sertoli cells, which inhibits the proliferation and differentiation of new spermatogonia and causes the deactivation of spermatogenesis. Conversely, the testicular recrudescence occurs by the increasing of the expression of LHR in Leydig cells, and AR and FSHR in Sertoli cells, which reactivates the testicular production of androgens and estrogens, the proliferation of spermatogonia and restarts the spermatogenesis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Larissa Mayumi Bueno
- Department of Zoology and Botany, UNESP-Universidade Estadual Paulista, São José do Rio Preto, Brazil
| | - Emília M Soares
- Center of Biological and Health Science, UFOB-Universidade Federal do Oeste da Bahia, Barreiras, Bahia, Brazil
| | - Juliana F Ferraz
- Center of Biological and Health Science, UFOB-Universidade Federal do Oeste da Bahia, Barreiras, Bahia, Brazil
| | - Cornélio S Santiago
- Center of Biological and Health Science, UFOB-Universidade Federal do Oeste da Bahia, Barreiras, Bahia, Brazil
| | | | | | - Eliana Morielle-Versute
- Department of Zoology and Botany, UNESP-Universidade Estadual Paulista, São José do Rio Preto, Brazil
| | - Mateus Rodrigues Beguelini
- Center of Biological and Health Science, UFOB-Universidade Federal do Oeste da Bahia, Barreiras, Bahia, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Ishiguro Y, Sasaki M, Yamaguchi E, Matsumoto K, Fukumoto S, Furuoka H, Imai K, Kitamura N. Seasonal changes of the prostate gland in the raccoon (Procyon lotor) inhabiting Hokkaido, Japan. J Vet Med Sci 2023; 85:214-225. [PMID: 36596557 PMCID: PMC10017286 DOI: 10.1292/jvms.22-0407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
In the prostate gland of the raccoon (Procyon lotor), the morphological appearance of the epithelial cells, such as basal and luminal cells, and the expressions of p63, androgen receptor (AR), and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) were examined histologically and immunohistochemically to clarify their seasonal dynamics throughout the year. In this study, the regression with luminal cell defluxion and the regeneration process of the prostatic glandular epithelium was revealed in the seasons with declined spermatogenesis (June to August). The expression of p63 was observed only in the basal cells. AR immunoreactivity in the luminal cells was shown in the developed and regenerating (close to developed) prostates, whereas the basal cells exhibited AR immunoreactivity all year round. PCNA expression was rare in epithelial cells of the developed prostate gland. In the regressed gland, the basal cells demonstrated proliferative ability, whereas PCNA of the luminal cells appeared for the first time in the regenerating phase. This study is the first to clarify the regression with luminal cell defluxion and restoration and the seasonal dynamics of AR expression and proliferative activity in the prostate gland of seasonal breeders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yuki Ishiguro
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Motoki Sasaki
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Emi Yamaguchi
- Division of Transboundary Animal Disease Research, National Institute of Animal Health, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Kotaro Matsumoto
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Shinya Fukumoto
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Hidefumi Furuoka
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Kunitoshi Imai
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Nobuo Kitamura
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Pimentel PB, Santigo CS, Ferraz JF, Morielle-Versute E, Taboga SR, Souza CC, Beguelini MR. Morphophysiology of the male reproductive accessory glands of the bat Pteronotus gymnonotus (Mormoopidae: Chiroptera). Tissue Cell 2023; 80:101991. [PMID: 36462383 DOI: 10.1016/j.tice.2022.101991] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2022] [Revised: 11/23/2022] [Accepted: 11/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Mormoopidae is an exclusive Neotropical family of bats, distributed from southern Mexico to northeastern Brazil. Possibly due to its endemic distribution and very low occurrence (rarity), descriptions of their reproductive accessory glands (RAGs) are still lacking. Thus, this study aims to characterize the male RAGs of Pteronotus gymnonotus (Mormoopidae: Chiroptera). Results demonstrate that the RAGs of P. gymnonotus is composed of a prostatic complex, comprising two regions (ventral and dorsal prostates); urethral (Littre) glands, a pair of bulbourethral and ampullary glands, with the absence of seminal vesicles. The ventral prostate has an atypical epithelium, due to its holocrine secretion; which contains numerous PAS-positive globular vesicles. The dorsal prostate has a cubic-to-columnar pseudostratified epithelium, containing fluid PAS-negative secretion. The ampullary glands present cubic-to-columnar pseudostratified epithelium, with secretion varying from granular and PAS-negative to fluid and PAS-positive. Urethral glands are dispersed in the submucosa of the urethra, while the bulbourethral glands are located in the penile root. Both glands have cubic-to-columnar pseudostratified epithelium with PAS-positive globular secretion. In conclusion, we propose that the RAGs of P. gymnonotus possibly evolved from a common emballonurid ancestor, shared with the families Phyllostomidae and Noctilionidae, but with the development of an exclusive apomorphy, the ampullary glands.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pollyana B Pimentel
- Center of Biological and Health Science, UFOB - Universidade Federal do Oeste da Bahia, Barreiras, Bahia, Brazil.
| | - Cornélio S Santigo
- Center of Biological and Health Science, UFOB - Universidade Federal do Oeste da Bahia, Barreiras, Bahia, Brazil.
| | - Juliana F Ferraz
- Center of Biological and Health Science, UFOB - Universidade Federal do Oeste da Bahia, Barreiras, Bahia, Brazil.
| | - Eliana Morielle-Versute
- Department of Zoology and Botany, UNESP - Univ. Estadual Paulista, São José do Rio Preto, São Paulo, Brazil.
| | - Sebastião R Taboga
- Department of Biology, UNESP - Univ. Estadual Paulista, São José do Rio Preto, São Paulo, Brazil.
| | - Carolina C Souza
- Center of Biological and Health Science, UFOB - Universidade Federal do Oeste da Bahia, Barreiras, Bahia, Brazil.
| | - Mateus R Beguelini
- Center of Biological and Health Science, UFOB - Universidade Federal do Oeste da Bahia, Barreiras, Bahia, Brazil.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Pimentel PB, Ferraz JF, Santigo CS, Soares EM, Morielle-Versute E, Taboga SR, Souza CC, Beguelini MR. Comparative analysis of male reproductive accessory glands in bats Histiotus velatus (Vespertilionidae), Molossus rufus (Molossidae), and Peropteryx leucoptera (Emballonuridae). Anat Rec (Hoboken) 2022. [PMID: 36579698 DOI: 10.1002/ar.25145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2022] [Revised: 11/22/2022] [Accepted: 12/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Despite the high number of species and wide geographic dispersion, reproductive accessory glands (RAGs) of bats have traditionally received little attention in the literature, with some species not even having a basic description of their composition and structure. Thus, this study aimed to analyze and compare the composition, anatomy, and histology of male RAGs of bat species belonging to three of the largest (cosmopolitan) bat families: Vespertilionidae (Histiotus velatus), Molossidae (Molossus rufus), and Emballonuridae (Peropteryx leucoptera), in order to understand the variations in the bat RAGs. The results showed that the RAGs of H. velatus, M. rufus, and P. leucoptera are composed of an intra-abdominal prostatic complex, associated with the urethra, urethral glands, and a pair of inguinal bulbourethral glands; without ampullary glands or seminal vesicles. The prostatic complex can be composed of two (M. rufus and P. leucoptera) or three (H. velatus) prostatic regions, and can be compact (P. leucoptera), semi-lobed (M. rufus), or multilobed (H. velatus). Each prostatic region has unique and distinct characteristics, with the ventral region presenting a holocrine nature, exclusive to bats; while the dorsal and/or dorsolateral regions have similar characteristics to the ventral prostate of rats and to the human peripheral zone.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pollyana B Pimentel
- Center of Biological and Health Science, UFOB - Universidade Federal do Oeste da Bahia, Barreiras, Bahia, Brazil
| | - Juliana Filgueira Ferraz
- Center of Biological and Health Science, UFOB - Universidade Federal do Oeste da Bahia, Barreiras, Bahia, Brazil
| | - Cornélio Souza Santigo
- Center of Biological and Health Science, UFOB - Universidade Federal do Oeste da Bahia, Barreiras, Bahia, Brazil
| | - Emília Miguel Soares
- Center of Biological and Health Science, UFOB - Universidade Federal do Oeste da Bahia, Barreiras, Bahia, Brazil
| | - Eliana Morielle-Versute
- Department of Zoology and Botany, UNESP - University Estadual Paulista, São José do Rio Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Sebastião R Taboga
- Department of Biology, UNESP - University Estadual Paulista, São José do Rio Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Carolina C Souza
- Center of Biological and Health Science, UFOB - Universidade Federal do Oeste da Bahia, Barreiras, Bahia, Brazil
| | - Mateus R Beguelini
- Center of Biological and Health Science, UFOB - Universidade Federal do Oeste da Bahia, Barreiras, Bahia, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Viana PIM, Godinho HP, Talamoni SA. Migratory testis, spermatogenesis and reproductive cycle of the neotropical broad-eared bat Nyctinomops laticaudatus (Molossidae). ZOOLOGY 2021; 150:125985. [PMID: 34902689 DOI: 10.1016/j.zool.2021.125985] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2021] [Revised: 12/02/2021] [Accepted: 12/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
We describe for the first time the displacement mechanism of migratory testis in Nyctinomops laticaudatus, which is little known in bats, in addition to histological analysis of its gonads. Data on testis anatomy and activity were obtained from 20 males. Males had migratory testes as they are displaced in the inguinal canals between intra and external abdominal positions. The displacement mechanism consisted of a testis ligament composed mainly of smooth muscle tissue attached to the cranial pole of the testis. Since the epididymis is closely tied to the testis, both organs are displaced together, regardless of the individual reproductive condition. Males and females showed seasonal monoestry, with a short mating period at the beginning of the dry season. The occurrence of breeding males was inversely proportional to rain and air temperature. At the mid-dry season, when air temperatures are also lower, males showed testis regressing, remaining in a reproductive hiatus for several months (rest/recrudescence) until the beginning of in the next dry season. Pregnant females were captured at the end of the dry season, and the birth of the young occurred during the rainy season, a time of greater food availability. Thus, females coordinated their reproductive phases to a more favorable period of the year for their survival and that of the offspring. Males associated their spermatogenic activity to a time of no environmental nor physiological restriction related to low air temperature.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pedro Igor Macário Viana
- Department of Biological Sciences, Post-graduate Program in Vertebrate Biology, Pontifical Catholic University of Minas Gerais, 500, Dom José Gaspar Av., Belo Horizonte, MG, 30535-901, Brazil
| | - Hugo Pereira Godinho
- Department of Biological Sciences, Post-graduate Program in Vertebrate Biology, Pontifical Catholic University of Minas Gerais, 500, Dom José Gaspar Av., Belo Horizonte, MG, 30535-901, Brazil
| | - Sonia Aparecida Talamoni
- Department of Biological Sciences, Post-graduate Program in Vertebrate Biology, Pontifical Catholic University of Minas Gerais, 500, Dom José Gaspar Av., Belo Horizonte, MG, 30535-901, Brazil.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Albernaz ESS, Santiago CS, Guerra LHA, Santos FCA, Góes RM, Morielle-Versute E, Taboga SR, Souza CC, Beguelini MR. The prostate of the bat Artibeus lituratus: Seasonal variations, abiotic regulation, and hormonal control. J Morphol 2021; 282:1188-1207. [PMID: 33913176 DOI: 10.1002/jmor.21362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2021] [Revised: 04/21/2021] [Accepted: 04/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
The prostate is an important gland that contributes to the male reproductive process, producing secretions that are essential for maintaining ideal conditions for the survival of sperm. Studies indicate a wide variation in the occurrence, morphology, and physiology of this gland in mammals, especially in bats, with this variation being related not only to the number of regions and their degree of compaction/lobulation but also to fluctuations in their functioning throughout the year. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the annual morphological and physiological variations of the male prostate of Artibeus lituratus and analyze their responses to annual abiotic variations and hormonal control. Sixty sexually adult males of A. lituratus were analyzed in this study, with five specimens collected monthly. Blood samples were submitted to serum hormone measurements and the prostates were morphologically, morphometrically, and immunohistochemically analyzed. The results indicated that the two prostatic regions (ventral and dorsal) of A. lituratus had different morphology, as well as different physiology and regulation. Annual fluctuations in abiotic factors seemed to influence the dorsal region more than the ventral region. Conversely, variations on testicular factors, such as testosterone and estradiol, influenced the ventral region more than the dorsal region. Despite these differences, both prostatic regions were strongly synchronized to the main reproductive peak of the species in September. The holocrine pattern of the ventral prostate was not directly affected by abiotic factors or by factors released by the testes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Edna S S Albernaz
- Center of Biological and Health Science, UFOB - Universidade Federal do Oeste da Bahia, Barreiras, Bahia, Brazil
| | - Cornélio S Santiago
- Center of Biological and Health Science, UFOB - Universidade Federal do Oeste da Bahia, Barreiras, Bahia, Brazil
| | - Luiz H A Guerra
- Department of Biology, UNESP - Univ. Estadual Paulista, São José do Rio Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Fernanda C A Santos
- Department of Histology and Embryology, UFG - Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil
| | - Rejane M Góes
- Department of Biology, UNESP - Univ. Estadual Paulista, São José do Rio Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Eliana Morielle-Versute
- Department of Zoology and Botany, UNESP - Univ. Estadual Paulista, São José do Rio Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Sebastião R Taboga
- Department of Biology, UNESP - Univ. Estadual Paulista, São José do Rio Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Carolina C Souza
- Center of Biological and Health Science, UFOB - Universidade Federal do Oeste da Bahia, Barreiras, Bahia, Brazil
| | - Mateus R Beguelini
- Center of Biological and Health Science, UFOB - Universidade Federal do Oeste da Bahia, Barreiras, Bahia, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Greenway EVG, Cirino LA, Wilner D, Somjee U, Anagnostou ME, Hepple RT, Miller CW. Extreme variation in testes size in an insect is linked to recent mating activity. J Evol Biol 2019; 33:142-150. [PMID: 31765505 DOI: 10.1111/jeb.13574] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2019] [Revised: 11/08/2019] [Accepted: 11/14/2019] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Ample sperm production is essential for successful male reproduction in many species. The amount of sperm a male can produce is typically constrained by the size of his testes, which can be energetically expensive to grow and maintain. Although the economics of ejaculate allocation has been the focus of much theoretical and empirical literature, relatively little attention has been paid to individual adult variation and plasticity at the source of sperm production, the testes themselves. We experimentally address this issue using the insect Narnia femorata Stål (Hemiptera: Coreidae). We established the metabolic cost of testicular tissue and then quantified variation in individual testes mass in response to multiple mate quality and quantity treatments. We uncovered extreme variation across individuals and considerable short-term effects of mating activity on testes dry mass. Importantly, the observed variation in testes mass was associated with notable fitness consequences; females paired with males with larger testes had greater hatching success. Overall, pairing with a female resulted in a 11% reduction in dry testes mass. Despite this apparent considerable mating investment, we found no evidence of strategic allocation to higher quality females or longer-term changes in testes mass. The dynamic nature of testes mass and its metabolic cost is vital to consider in the context of re-mating rates, polyandry benefits and general mating system dynamics both in this species and more broadly.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- E V Ginny Greenway
- Entomology and Nematology Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
| | - Lauren A Cirino
- Entomology and Nematology Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
| | - Daniela Wilner
- Entomology and Nematology Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
| | - Ummat Somjee
- Entomology and Nematology Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.,Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Balboa, Ancon, Panama
| | | | - Russell T Hepple
- Department of Physical Therapy, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
| | - Christine W Miller
- Entomology and Nematology Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Santos RTS, Pires LRM, Albernaz ESS, Andrade CS, Santiago CS, Morielle-Versute E, Taboga SR, Beguelini MR. Morphological analysis of the male reproductive accessory glands of the batArtibeus lituratus(Phyllostomidae: Chiroptera). J Morphol 2017; 279:228-241. [DOI: 10.1002/jmor.20767] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2017] [Revised: 10/05/2017] [Accepted: 10/10/2017] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Renata T. S. Santos
- Center of Biological and Health Science, UFOB - Universidade Federal do Oeste da Bahia; Barreiras Bahia Brazil
| | - Laís R. M. Pires
- Center of Biological and Health Science, UFOB - Universidade Federal do Oeste da Bahia; Barreiras Bahia Brazil
| | - Edna S. S. Albernaz
- Center of Biological and Health Science, UFOB - Universidade Federal do Oeste da Bahia; Barreiras Bahia Brazil
| | - Cleber S. Andrade
- Center of Biological and Health Science, UFOB - Universidade Federal do Oeste da Bahia; Barreiras Bahia Brazil
| | - Cornélio S. Santiago
- Center of Biological and Health Science, UFOB - Universidade Federal do Oeste da Bahia; Barreiras Bahia Brazil
| | - Eliana Morielle-Versute
- Department of Zoology and Botany; UNESP - Univ. Estadual Paulista; São José do Rio Preto São Paulo Brazil
| | - Sebastião R. Taboga
- Department of Biology; UNESP - Univ. Estadual Paulista; São José do Rio Preto São Paulo Brazil
| | - Mateus R. Beguelini
- Center of Biological and Health Science, UFOB - Universidade Federal do Oeste da Bahia; Barreiras Bahia Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Beguelini MR, Puga CCI, Morielle-Versute E, Taboga SR. Comparative analysis of the male reproductive accessory glands of bats Noctilio albiventris
(Noctilionidae) and Rhynchonycteris naso
(Emballonuridae). J Morphol 2016; 277:1459-1468. [DOI: 10.1002/jmor.20587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2015] [Revised: 07/12/2016] [Accepted: 07/22/2016] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Mateus R. Beguelini
- Center of Biological and Health Sciences; UFOB-Universidade Federal do Oeste da Bahia; Barreiras Bahia 47808-021 Brazil
| | - Cintia C. I. Puga
- Department of Zoology and Botany; UNESP-Univ. Estadual Paulista; São José do Rio Preto São Paulo 15054-000 Brazil
| | - Eliana Morielle-Versute
- Department of Zoology and Botany; UNESP-Univ. Estadual Paulista; São José do Rio Preto São Paulo 15054-000 Brazil
| | - Sebastião R. Taboga
- Department of Biology; UNESP-Univ. Estadual Paulista; São José do Rio Preto São Paulo 15054-000 Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Martins FF, Beguelini MR, Puga CC, Morielle-Versute E, Vilamaior PS, Taboga SR. Morphophysiology and ultrastructure of the male reproductive accessory glands of the bats Carollia perspicillata, Glossophaga soricina and Phyllostomus discolor (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae). Acta Histochem 2016; 118:640-651. [PMID: 27425652 DOI: 10.1016/j.acthis.2016.07.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2015] [Revised: 07/07/2016] [Accepted: 07/08/2016] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
The male reproductive accessory glands (RAGs) are important organs that contribute to the secretion of different substances that composed the ejaculate. Despite this important function, their composition, anatomy and function vary widely between species. Thus, the RAGs of three species of phyllostomid bats were morphologically and ultrastructurally characterized and compared in this study. The RAGs of the three analyzed species are composed of a prostate and a pair of bulbourethral glands (BG). In all species, the prostate is composed of three well-defined regions (ventral, dorsolateral and dorsal regions). The ventral region showed an atypical epithelium (undefined) with no obvious cellular limits and a holocrine PAS-positive secretion. The dorsolateral region of Carollia perspicillata and Phyllostomus discolor showed a pseudostratified cubic morphology, and that from Glossophaga soricina had a columnar morphology endowed with cytoplasmic projections and stereocilia. The dorsal region of the three analyzed species is composed of a pseudostratified columnar epithelium endowed with stereocilia; however, G. soricina also presented cytoplasmic projections in the apical portions of the secretory cells similar to those in the dorsolateral region. The BG of the three analyzed species are composed of a pseudostratified columnar epithelium including basal and PAS-positive secretory cells. In conclusion, this study morphologically and ultrastructurally characterized the RAGs of three species of phyllostomid bats, demonstrating the presence of a novel third prostatic region in species of this family. The results also showed the absence of seminal vesicles and ampullary glands, and better characterized the holocrine pattern of the prostatic ventral region, which is unique to bats.
Collapse
|