Histological description of the reproductive tract of male and female hatchlings of the Magdalena river turtle (Podocnemis lewyana).

Abstract

In this study we described the macroscopic and microscopic histology of the reproductive system of male and female Podocnemis lewyana neonates (3.5 months old). We found macroscopic differences in the morphology of the gonads between the sexes, with ovaries being twice as long as testes, and testes being twice as wide as ovaries. Microscopically, we identified several immature elements, such as the lack of a muscle layer in the oviduct of females, and simple epithelia instead of pseudostratified epithelia in the oviduct and epididymis described in reptile adults. We also found a black pigment observed macroscopically in the mesovarium, and macroscopically and histologically in the epididymis. This pigment is consistent with the center of melano-macrophages described in other vertebrates. Finally we described a supporting mesenchymal structure, the appendage of the oviduct, which was much longer than what has been described in other Podocnemis species.Keywords: epididymis, histology, ovary, oviduct, pigment, testis. RESUMENEn este estudio se realizó una descripción macro y microscópica del sistema reproductivo de tortugas machos y hembras de neonatos de Podocnemis lewyana de 3,5 meses de edad. Se hallaron diferencias macroscópicas en las gónadas, esto es, el ovario fue el doble de largo relativo al testículo, pero el testículo fue el doble de ancho relativo al ovario. Microscópicamente se identificaron varios elementos inmaduros tales como la ausencia de una capa muscular reportada en el oviducto de hembras de reptiles adultas, y epitelios simples en lugar de epitelios pseudoestratificados en oviducto y epidídimo en reptiles adultos. También se describe un pigmento negro observado macroscópicamente en el mesoovario de las hembras, y macroscópica e histológicamente en el epidídimo de los machos. Este pigmento es compatible con los centros de melanomacrófagos reportados en otros vertebrados. Finalmente, se describe también una estructura mesenquimatosa de soporte que identificamos como el apéndice del oviducto, la cual fue mucho más larga que las descritas en otras especies de Podocnemis.

Determination of sexual maturity of Indonesian box turtle (Cuora amboinensis couro) based on straight carapace length

“…The testicular morphology of Indonesian box turtles with SCL sizes of 10 cm and 12.5 cm were spheroid in shape and more translucent in color. These results were in line with the results of a study on the morphological description of immature Magdalena River turtle (Podocnemis lewyana) (Sanchez-Ospina et al, 2014). However, it was different from the mature turtles that were spread on Central Sulawesi (Cuora amboinensis, Leucocephalon yuwonoi, and Indotestudo forstenii) which were ovoid in shaped and yellowish in color (Tagunu et al, 2018).…”

Microanatomy of the testes and testicular ducts of the butterfly lizard, Leiolepis ocellata Peters, 1971 (Reptilia: Squamata: Agamidae) during the active reproductive period

“…The testicular pigmentation has been suggested to be implicated in thermoregulation by increasing the testicular temperature that may be correlated with increased male sexual activity (Guillette et al, ). This pigmentation is also detectable in the epididymal sheath, as in the turtles Chrysemys picta (Holmes & Gist, ) and Podocnemis lewyana (Sánchez‐Ospina, Rodríguez, & Ceballos, ).…”