Gross and Morphometric Anatomy of the Male Reproductive System of Bats (Eidolon helvum)

Abstract

The present study aimed at examining the gross and morphometry of the reproductive tract of the male bats (Eidolon helvum). Thirty male bats (adults n = 17 and juveniles n = 13) were captured using net, weighed, aged using relative ossification of the wing bone, and dissected for gross examination. Morphologically, the mean body weight and forearm length in both adults and juveniles were 235.31 ± 6.30 g, 12.14 ± 0.19 cm and 69.54 ± 7.68 g, 7.77 ± 0.29 cm, respectively. The testicles were completely descended in adults with the penis projected cranially. The epididymides were found at the median border of the testis and continues as vas deferens. No significant differences (P > 0.05) were observed between right and left testicular weights in both adults and juveniles and also in lengths of different parts of the reproductive segments in both age groups assessed, respectively. This work has documented the gross anatomy of the male reproductive tract in bats. Ultrastructure and histochemistry are recommended for further insight into the reproductive biology.

Morphological analysis of the male reproductive accessory glands of the bat Artibeus lituratus (Phyllostomidae: Chiroptera)

“…Although the presence of seminal vesicles was proposed for species of bats from other families, such as Pteropodidae (Danmaigoro et al, ; Fard & Ghassemi, ; Krutzsch, ), Miniopteridae (Krutzsch & Crichton, ), Molossidae (Krutzsch & Crichton, ), and Vespertilionidae (Gadegone & Sapkal, ), the absence of seminal vesicles is not exclusive to A. lituratus . Its absence was also reported in other species of phyllostomid bats (Martins et al, ; Puga et al, ), as well as in bats from other families, such as Hipposideros speoris (Hipposideridae – Pal, ), Molossus molossus (Molossidae – Christante et al, ), Myotis nigricans (Vespertilionidae – Negrin et al, ), Noctilio albiventris (Noctilionidae – Beguelini et al, ), Rhinolophus capensis (Rhinolophidae – Bernard, ), and Rhynchonycteris naso (Emballonuridae – Beguelini et al, ).…”

“…However, the authors noted that substantial interspecific variation exists in the composition of RAGs, that is, in addition to the the prostate and the seminal vesicles, ampullary and bulbourethral glands may or may not occur within this glandular complex. Although the presence of seminal vesicles was proposed for species of bats from other families, such as Pteropodidae (Danmaigoro et al, 2014;Fard & Ghassemi, 2017;Krutzsch, 2005), Miniopteridae (Krutzsch & Crichton, 1990), Molossidae (Krutzsch & Crichton, 1987), and Vespertilionidae (Gadegone & Sapkal, 1983), the absence of seminal vesicles is not exclusive to A. lituratus. Its absence was also reported in other species of phyllostomid bats (Martins et al, 2015;Puga et al, 2013), as well as in bats from other families, such as -Bernard, 1985), and Rhynchonycteris naso (Emballonuridae - Beguelini et al, 2016).…”

Seasonal variations in the morphology of the seminal vesicles of the African straw‐coloured fruit bat (Eidolon helvum)

“…Even so, little is known about the reproductive biology of this immensely popular and ecologically important species of bat (Boyles et al, 2011;Ghanem & Voigt, 2012;Henry & Jouard, 2007;Kamins et al, 2011;Kunz et al, 2011;Medellin & Gaona, 1999;Mildenstein et al, 2016). The morphology of the seminal vesicle has been reported for a few bat species (Danmaigoro, Onu, Sonfada, Umaru, Hena, et al, 2014;Fard & Ghassemi, 2017;Krutzsch, 2000;Krutzsch & Nellis, 2006). Furthermore, seasonal variations in some reproductive functions of E. helvum have been reported (Abiaezute et al, 2020;Abiaezute et al, 2020), but reports on the seasonal changes that may occur in the morphology of the seminal vesicles of E. helvum are lacking.…”