Storage of spermatozoa in the female genital tract of the vespertilionid bat, Scotophilus heathi

Krishna, Amitabh; Dominic, C. J.

doi:10.1530/jrf.0.0540319

Cited by 36 publications

(25 citation statements)

References 8 publications

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“…In the Indian pipistrelle, Pipistrellus ceylonicus chrysothrix, and greater yellow bat, Scotophilus heathi, however, surviving spermatozoa are stored in both the uterus and oviduct (Gopalakrishna & Madhavan, 1971;Krishna & Dominic, 1978). In the flat-headed bats, Tylonycteris pachypus and T. robustula, comparatively few spermatozoa are found in the uterus and most occur in the oviduct where they are orientated with their heads towards the epithelium (Medway, 1972).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sperm storage in the reproductive tract of the female Japanese long-fingered bat, Miniopterus schreibersii fuliginosus

Mōri¹,

Ta²

1980

Reproduction

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In the Japanese long-fingered bat, Miniopterus schreibersii fuliginosus, spermatozoa in contact with the microvilli of non-ciliated cells in folds in the uterotubal junction appeared normal, while spermatozoa remaining in the uterus degenerated and were engulfed by a massive invasion of polymorphonuclear leucocytes. No leucocytes were seen in the uterotubal junction area. It is suggested that the spermatozoa in this area are being stored, probably until ovulation occurs.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sperm storage in the reproductive tract of the female Japanese long-fingered bat, Miniopterus schreibersii fuliginosus

Mōri¹,

Ta²

1980

Reproduction

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“…One specific group of mammals, the bats, have evolved the ability to store spermatozoa from several months, and although the mechanism underlying this ability remains mysterious in most species, a long series of studies targeting one particular species, Scotophilus heathii , a tropical vespertilionid bat, seems to have resulted in a valuable breakthrough with possible relevance to other mammals. This Asian bat species stores spermatozoa for several months, from the time of insemination until ovulation takes place (Gopalakrishna and Madhavan 1978; Krishna and Dominic 1978). Considerable effort has been invested in studying the endocrinology of this bat, and it has been shown that ovulation is delayed because of high levels of circulatory androgens (Abhilasha and Krishna 1996, 1997; Doval and Krishna 1998, 1999; Krishna and Abhilasha 2000; Roy and Krishna 2010).…”

Section: What Mechanisms Are Involved In Sperm Storage?mentioning

confidence: 99%

Mechanisms of Sperm Storage in the Female Reproductive Tract: an Interspecies Comparison

Holt

2011

Reprod Domestic Animals

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Contents Once semen has been collected for artificial insemination, it is diluted into extenders designed to prevent its deterioration over the period prior to insemination. If the semen is not frozen, the extenders provide protection for a period of a few hours to a few days, depending on species. Despite the efforts of biotechnologists to increase the duration of storage without compromising fertility, there has been relatively little progress for many years. However, comparative studies in diverse species have revealed that long‐term sperm storage (up to months and years) within the female reproductive tract is relatively commonplace in reptiles, fishes, birds and amphibians. Even among mammals, some species of bat have evolved mechanisms for storing spermatozoa for several months in the uterus or oviduct so that they can mate in the autumn but postpone fertilization until the spring. We currently know little about the mechanisms that support such long‐term sperm storage, mainly because evidence from such species is either absent or fragmentary. Nevertheless, parallels between mammalian and other systems, where spermatozoa are sequestered in sperm storage tubules, suggest that the enclosure of spermatozoa within pockets of epithelial cells may be sufficient to achieve long‐term sperm storage. In addition, recent evidence from sperm‐storing bats has suggested an alternative, or additional, hypothesis that the modulation of apoptosis within epithelial cells is important in controlling sperm survival. Despite a lack of direct experimental evidence from a wide variety of species, I propose that there is now enough evidence to warrant investigation of these hypotheses.

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“…Spermatozoa stored in the female reproductive tract of the bat are often oriented with their heads toward the uterine and oviductal epithelium and , in some instances, embedded within and between the oviductal cells (Kohlbrugge, 1910(Kohlbrugge, , 1913Courrier, 1921;Nakano, 1928;Redenz, 1929;Austin, 1959;Austin and Bishop,1959;Krishna and Dominic, 1978). At the electron-microscope level, spermatozoa have been seen closely related to the microvilli and cilia that are abundant on luminal epithelial cells in certain areas of the female tract (Wimsatt et al, 1966;Racey and Potts, 1970;Racey et al, 1975;Racey, 1979;Mori and Uchida, 1980;Richardson et al, 1980;Krutzsch et al, 1982).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Studies on prolonged spermatozoa survival in chiroptera: A morphological examination of storage and clearance of intrauterine and cauda epididymal spermatozoa in the bats Myotis lucifugus and M. velifer

1982

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The cauda epididymidis, uterine corpus, and cornua and uterotubal junction of Myotis function to retain and preserve normal spermatozoa throughout hibernation. In none of the sites do spermatozoa show features that might account for their extended viability. Spermatozoa stored in the uterus and epididymis show no special orientation toward the epithelium lining these sites, whereas an intimate relationship is established between some sperm and the epithelial cells of the uterotubal junction which might either account for extended postcoital sperm survival or forecast their removal from further participation. Transmission and scanning electron microscopic observations do not disclose any morphological changes in stored luminal spermatozoa. A low rate of phagocytosis of sperm is evident in the female tract during hibernation. However, spermatozoa are evidently not vulnerable to being removed from the storage sites until spring arousal when ovulation occurs. Both uterotubal epithelial cells and phagocytes appear to be involved in the disposal of spermatozoa in the female, whereas epididymal spermatozoa apparently are primarily voided during urination. A mechanism that delays capacitation must underlie the ability of spermatozoa to survive in the female reproductive tract of the hibernating bat.

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Storage of spermatozoa in the female genital tract of the vespertilionid bat, Scotophilus heathi

Abstract: Spermatozoa were observed in all parts of the genital tract in females killed in January, February, March and April although copulation occurs only until early February. The spermatozoa were arranged linearly with their heads orientated towards the epithelial lining.

Cited by 36 publications

References 8 publications

Sperm storage in the reproductive tract of the female Japanese long-fingered bat, Miniopterus schreibersii fuliginosus

Sperm storage in the reproductive tract of the female Japanese long-fingered bat, Miniopterus schreibersii fuliginosus

Mechanisms of Sperm Storage in the Female Reproductive Tract: an Interspecies Comparison

Studies on prolonged spermatozoa survival in chiroptera: A morphological examination of storage and clearance of intrauterine and cauda epididymal spermatozoa in the bats Myotis lucifugus and M. velifer

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