Comparison of Histoenzymological Alterations in the Contralateral Ovary of Nulliparous and Parous Females of the Bat <i>Taphozous melanopogon melanopogon</i> Temmnick (Microchiroptera, Mammalia) Displaying Absolute Dextral Dominance of the Genital Tract

Abstract

Taphozous melanopogon meianopogon is a unique emballonurid microchiropteran which exhibits a 100% dextral dominance of the female genital tract. Folliculogenesis occurs in the contralateral ovaries, but it is only in the right ovary that a single Graafian follicle attains maturity and ovulates.The product of fertilization is implanted in the dextral uterine cornu. Seven types of follicles were identified.in the right ovary, as compared with five in the left, on the basis of shape, size and number of associated granulosa cells. In the parous bats, a single, nearly extroverted corpus luteum was discerned in the ovary which survived for 2–2V2 months.The left ovary was nearly a vestigial structure during pregnancy. The structural asymmetry of the internal genitalia was observed to be correlated with the histochemical site and pattern of distribution of acid phosphatase and alkaline phosphatase. Differential activites of phosphatases were discerned in the developing primary, secondary, preantral and antral follicles and the interstitial tissues of the contralateral ovary during the nulliparous state. A high enzyme reaction was displayed by follicles undergoing atretic and degenerative changes. In the parous bats, pronounced differences were noted in the histologic constituents of the contralateral ovary. This study shows a significant link between functional asymmetry of the genitalia and the structural and enzymological characteristics of the ovarian tissues.

Histochemical localization of enzymes and lipids in the ovary of a vespertilionid bat, Scotophilus heathi, during the reproductive cycle

“…The atresia peak observed in S. heathi (Krishna & Singh, 1992) in February is related with intense reaction of these enzymes and may be related with final growth and selection of dominant follicle for ovulation. This has been well supported by an earlier study on bats that was carried out by Jaroli & Lall (1987). Involvement of intraovarian steroids in the recruitment and selection of dominant follicles has been reported in primates (Hodgen, 1982).…”

“…It has been reported that interstitial cells in some bat species are better equipped for steroidogenic function than mature follicles (Jerret, 1979). Jaroli & Lall (1987) reported high enzyme reaction in the degenerative follicles. Thus, follicular atresia seems to provide support for steroidogenic activity.…”

“…While several authors have reviewed the progress of research on reproduction from time to time, detailed studies on ovarian cycle and steriodogenesis are very few (Oxberry, 1979;Racey, 1982;Heideman, 1989;Singh & Krishna, 1997;Martin & Bernard, 2000). The cellular location and relative activities of total phospholipids and neutral lipids, substrates for sex steroids and steroidogenesis, enzymes 3β-HSD, and glucose-6-phosphates (G-6-PD) are described in the ovary of bats Tadarida (Jerrett, 1979); Taphozous (Jaroli & Lall, 1987); Rinolaphus eurale (Tsvetkov & Takeva, 1988); and Macrotus (Crichton et al, 1990). No such information is available on any tropical bat, particularly in relation to the unique reproductive features, which are prolonged survival of the Graafian follicle and delayed ovulation.…”

Histoarchitecture and Δ5-3β hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase profile in ovaries of the non-pregnant, pregnant and lactating insectivorous rat-tailed bat, Rhinopoma microphyllum kinneari

“…Wimsatt (1979) describes it as an example of functional asymmetry. Dextral dominance of ovarian functions is seen in Taphozous melanopogon melanopogon (Jaroli and Lall, 1987) and Molossus ater (Rasweiler, 1988), whereas Megaderma lyra lyra exhibits sinistral dominance of the ovary (Trivedi and Lall, 1988). The present study shows that R. m. kinneari is seasonally monoestrous like the little (Krishna and Singh, 1993).…”

“…While some species manifest functional equivalence of ovaries, others display dextral or sinistral dominance. Seasonal factors influence ovarian histoarchitecture and physiology whereby ovaries of hibernating and non-hibernating bats differ greatly (Anand Kumar, 1965;Jerret, 1979;Oxberry, 1979;Wimsatt, 1979;Jaroli, 1980;Jaroli and Lall, 1987;Rasweiler, 1988;Trivedi and Lall, 1988;Gopalakrishna and Badwaik, 1989). In non-hibernating chiropterans there are three patterns of ovarian cycles: aseasonally polyoestrous, seasonally polyoestrous and seasonally monoestrous (Quintero and Rasweiler, 1974;Gopalakrishna et al, 1975;Jerret, 1979).…”