Sperm storage and morphofunctional bases of the female reproductive tract of the snake Philodryas patagoniensis from southeastern Brazil

Abstract

Macroscopic and microscopic examination of the female reproductive tract of Philodryas patagoniensis was conducted in order to observe sperm storage structures and determine morphological changes throughout the reproductive cycle. The oviduct of P. patagoniensis is composed of the infundibulum (anterior and posterior), uterus, utero-vaginal junction, and vagina. The uterine epithelium showed constant secretory activity throughout the reproductive cycle, although increased production of secretory granules was observed in secondary vitellogenic females. Sperm storage occurs in the posterior infundibulum and utero-vaginal junction in pregnant, primary (postpartum), and secondary vitellogenic females. These data suggest that P. patagoniensis may be able to produce several clutches from a single mating. Sperm storage in the posterior infundibulum occurs in sperm receptacles, while in the utero-vaginal junction sperm is stored in crypts. Histochemical tests by periodic acid-Schiff revealed that both sperm storage sites increase the production of neutral carbohydrate-rich granules in the presence of sperm, similar to snakes from temperate regions. This is the first report of sperm storage in the posterior infundibulum of a neotropical snake.

Reproductive biology of the Green Ground Snake Erythrolamprus poecilogyrus sublineatus (Serpentes: Dipsadidae) in Subtropical Brazil

“…The presence of both oviductal eggs and secondary follicles in four females also suggests the occurrence of more than one clutch during the reproductive period. This condition was also observed in E. p. poecilogyrus (Pinto and Fernandes 2004), as well as other Neotropical dipsadids and colubrids in the subtropical domain (Pizzatto and Marques 2006, Leite et al 2009, Mesquita et al 2013, Panzera and Maneyro 2013 and might suggest the use of stored sperm from a single mating to the production of multiple clutches (Rojas et al 2015). …”

Reproductive biology of Philodryas patagoniensis (Snakes: Dipsadidae) in south Brazil: male reproductive cycle

“…But, taking account of the female reproductive cycle (Fowler et al 1998;Pontes 2007;L opez and Giraudo 2008;Rojas et al 2015), all the populations analysed show seasonal reproduction and some variation is recognized just in the time of reproductive events, such as vitellogenesis, ovulation, oviposition and hatchling of newborns. But, taking account of the female reproductive cycle (Fowler et al 1998;Pontes 2007;L opez and Giraudo 2008;Rojas et al 2015), all the populations analysed show seasonal reproduction and some variation is recognized just in the time of reproductive events, such as vitellogenesis, ovulation, oviposition and hatchling of newborns.…”

“…Interpopulational variation in reproductive traits is often attributed to different climatic conditions (Pizzatto and Marques 2006;Mathies et al 2010), while the absence of variability in reproductive patterns among populations that live under different climatic conditions, like observed to P. patagoniensis, may be attributed to phylogenetic conservatism (James and Shine 1988). Because of this, the ability to sperm storage in the male ductus deferens and in the female oviduct (Rojas et al 2015) evolved to allow the reproductive success of P. patagoniensis. Because of this, the ability to sperm storage in the male ductus deferens and in the female oviduct (Rojas et al 2015) evolved to allow the reproductive success of P. patagoniensis.…”

Reproductive biology of Philodryas patagoniensis (Snakes: Dipsadidae) in south Brazil: Female reproductive cycle

“…The reproductive cycle of mature females was analysed considering morphoanatomical and histological changes in ovary and oviduct (Rojas et al, 2015). The reproductive cycle of mature females was analysed considering morphoanatomical and histological changes in ovary and oviduct (Rojas et al, 2015).…”

“…We dissected 55 females to obtain histological samples from the following structures: infundibulum (anterior and posterior), uterus, utero-vaginal junction (UVJ) and vagina (Rojas et al, 2015). As a standard procedure, only right-side organs were used in this study.…”