Histology and histochemistry of the oviductal sperm storage pockets of the agamid lizard <i>Calotes versicolor</i>

Kumari, Titus Ruth Shantha; Sarkar, H. B. Devaraj; Shivanandappa, T.

doi:10.1002/jmor.1052030110

Cited by 30 publications

(32 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…As far as we are aware, spermatozoa are described as residing free in the lumen of sperm storage sites, without direct connection with the oviductal tissue in reptiles (Kumari et al. 1990; Gist and Fischer 1993; Gist et al. 2008).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sperm storage and spermatozoa interaction with epithelial cells in oviduct of Chinese soft‐shelled turtle, Pelodiscus sinensis

Chen

Zhang

Yuan

et al. 2015

Ecology and Evolution

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Spermatozoa are known to be stored within the female genital tract after mating in various species to optimize timing of reproductive events such as copulation, fertilization, and ovulation. The mechanism supporting long-term sperm storage is still unclear in turtles. The aim of this study was to investigate the interaction between the spermatozoa and oviduct in Chinese soft-shelled turtle by light and electron microscopy to reveal the potential cytological mechanism of long-term sperm storage. Spermatozoa were stored in isthmus, uterine, and vagina of the oviduct throughout the year, indicating long-term sperm storage in vivo. Sperm heads were always embedded among the cilia and even intercalated into the apical hollowness of the ciliated cells in the oviduct mucosal epithelium. The stored spermatozoa could also gather in the gland conduit. There was no lysosome distribution around the hollowness of the ciliated cell, suggesting that the ciliated cells of the oviduct can support the spermatozoa instead of phagocytosing them in the oviduct. Immune cells were sparse in the epithelium and lamina propria of oviduct, although few were found inside the blood vessel of mucosa, which may be an indication of immune tolerance during sperm storage in the oviduct of the soft-shelled turtle. These characteristics developed in the turtle benefited spermatozoa survival for a long time as extraneous cells in the oviduct of this species. These findings would help to improve the understanding of reproductive regularity and develop strategies of species conservation in the turtle. The Chinese soft-shelled turtle may be a potential model for uncovering the mechanism behind the sperm storage phenomenon.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sperm storage and spermatozoa interaction with epithelial cells in oviduct of Chinese soft‐shelled turtle, Pelodiscus sinensis

Chen

Zhang

Yuan

et al. 2015

Ecology and Evolution

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“…Therefore, the posterior oviduct of viperids (and all other snakes investigated) did not evolve sperm storage because SSTs were already present in the posterior infundibulum. Of course, this leads to more questions than answers because lizards, many of which possess infundibular sperm storage (Saint-Girons, 1962a,b, 1973Cuellar, 1966;Schaefer and Roeding, 1973;Bou-Resli, 1981;Adams and Cooper, 1988;Kumari et al, 1990;Murphy-Walker and Haley, 1996), have secondarily evolved sperm storage in other regions of the oviduct , the posterior oviduct being one of them (Bou-Resli et al, 1981;Sever and Hopkins, 2004). In ultrastructural investigations of sperm storage in lizards, sperm are stored in shallow vaginal crypts in Acanthodactylus scutellatus (Bou-Resli et al, 1981), tubulo-alveolar glands in Anolis sagrei , and between the rugae of the vagina in Scincella laterale (Sever and Hopkins, 2004).…”

Section: The Nonglandular Uterusmentioning

confidence: 98%

Sperm aggregations in female Agkistrodon piscivorus (Reptilia:Squamata): A histological and ultrastructural investigation

Siegel

Sever

2007

Journal of Morphology

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Upon copulation in female Agkistrodon piscivorus, sperm migrate up the oviduct to sperm storage tubules (SSTs) in the posterior infundibulum. The epithelium of the SSTs is composed of ciliated and secretory cells and differs ultrastructurally from that of the epithelium lining the lumen of the posterior infundibulum. Sperm pass through an area composed primarily of ciliated cells at the opening of each gland before aligning themselves in parallel arrays with their nuclei facing an area composed primarily of secretory cells at the base of the tubules. Sperm are also found embedded inter- and intracellularly in the SSTs. The secretory vacuoles in the SSTs become highly electron dense after the start of the fall mating season along with the synthesis of lipid droplets. Histochemical analysis reveals that the alteration in secretory material density is caused by the production of neutral carbohydrates. Some sperm remain in aggregates in the nonglandular section of the posterior uterus until the time of ovulation. However, ultrastructural evidence indicates these sperm degrade before ovulation. Therefore, sperm in posterior aggregates have no role in fertilization of ovulated ova. The data presented here support the hypothesis that infundibular sperm storage is the mode that snakes utilize to sequester viable sperm until ovulation.

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“…The secretory products may also function in capacitation of gamates and facilitation of fertilization, as does oviductal fluid in mammals (Gould, 1974). In snake T. sirtalis and lizard Calotes versicolor, the epithelium of the sperm storage pockets shows positive reaction for PAS, indicating that they contain glycosaminoglycans (Halpert et al, 1982;Kumari et al, 1990). This substance was said to be ''carrier matrices'' and is hypothesized to be nutritive in function (Hoffman and Wimsatt, 1972).…”

Section: Unique Features Of Secretory Granules In Secretory Cell and mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The sperm stored in the tubules appear random in overall orientations, and no close association of stored sperm with host cells were found, although some spermatozoa were in contact with the cilia of the cells forming the tubules. PAS-positive material and the flocculent material secreted from the epithelium of the sperm storage tubules observed under light and electron microscopy indicates that any contribution by the host cells of the tubules toward maintenance of spermatozoa must be secreted naturally, or in the form of a carbohydrate-rich matrix (Halpert et al, 1982;Kumari et al, 1990). …”

Section: Sperm Stored In the Tubulesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…That stored sperm are capable of fertilization is indicated by the fact that females of several species that have been kept in captivity without males for prolonged periods can still produce viable clutches (Adams and Cooper, 1988). Histochemical studies of utervaginal sperm storage areas and other regions of the oviduct in birds (Bakst, 1987;Bakst and Bird, 1987) and squamate reptiles (Kumari et al, 1990) suggest that the sperm storage tubules (SSTs) may possess biochemical adaptations favorable for sperm retention. The maintenance of the stability of microenvironment of the SST might basically due to the ultrastructure characters of the epithelium cells, especially the cell junctions and other special structures.…”

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confidence: 99%

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Ultrastructure of Anterior Uterus of the Oviduct and the Stored Sperm in Female Soft‐Shelled Turtle,Trionyx sinensis

Han

Zhangli

et al. 2008

The Anatomical Record

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Ultrastructure of sperm storage in female soft-shelled turtle, Trionyx sinensis was examined under light and electron microscopes. Sperm storage tubules are restricted to the anterior of the uterus. These tubules developed either by folding or fusion of the oviductal mucosal folds and are lined by both ciliated and secretory cells. Ciliated cells are characterized by a few microvilli and prominent cilia in the apical membranes. A prominent feature of the secretory cell is the presence of secretory granules in the supranuclear region. The size, shape, and electron density of these granules vary markedly. The secretory product is released mainly by exocytosis into the oviductal lumen, where it appears as flocculent material. The unique structure in the base of the epithelium, the basal border of the cell-the basal lamina-and a blood vessel layer, is presumed to be a important barrier, by which the nourishment exchange and the microenvironment maintenance are ensured. The gland cell is presented with numerous, round, membrane-bound secretory granules of moderate to high electron densities. We divide these granules into three types according to their appearance: (1) membrane bounded granules with high-homogeneous electron density, (2) membrane bounded granules with moderate-homogeneous electron density, (3) membrane bounded, electron dense granules with concentric structures. These granules are presented as different stages of the secretions in the gland cell. The junction complexes are markedly distributed between cells, which are important in keeping stability and the microenvironment maintenance of the sperm storage tubules. Sperm stored in the tubules are heterogeneous in cytology. In addition to the mature sperm in the lumen, sperm with large chromatic granules are found, which are presumed to be immature sperm and are being in the process of nuclear condensation. Several spermatozoa in the tubules are exhibited with definitive indications of degeneration of the nuclei. The nuclear volume increases. The electron density of the central cores in mitochondria declines, combined with the deterioration of concentric membrane structure. Those changes are possibly due to the long time storage of the sperm in sperm storage tubules, and the leakage of reactive oxygen species is suggested to be a major cause. We conclude that the ultrastructure character of sperm storage in the oviduct

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Histology and histochemistry of the oviductal sperm storage pockets of the agamid lizard Calotes versicolor

Cited by 30 publications

References 17 publications

Sperm storage and spermatozoa interaction with epithelial cells in oviduct of Chinese soft‐shelled turtle, Pelodiscus sinensis

Sperm storage and spermatozoa interaction with epithelial cells in oviduct of Chinese soft‐shelled turtle, Pelodiscus sinensis

Sperm aggregations in female Agkistrodon piscivorus (Reptilia:Squamata): A histological and ultrastructural investigation

Ultrastructure of Anterior Uterus of the Oviduct and the Stored Sperm in Female Soft‐Shelled Turtle,Trionyx sinensis

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