Ultrastructural observations of delayed implantation in the Japanese long-fingered bat, Miniopterus schreibersii fuliginosus

Changes in progesterone concentrations in the Japanese long-fingered bat, Miniopterus schreibersii fuliginosus

“…These results support our belief that the corpus luteum is less active during delayed development in this bat (Kimura & Uchida, 1983;Uchida et al, 1984). The so-called delayed development was first described in the California leaf-nosed bat, Macrotus californicus (Bradshaw, 1962), and occurs also in the Mexican fruit bat, Artibeus jamaicensis (Fleming, 1971).…”

“…Elevated ambient temperatures and ample food supplies failed to shorten the period of delayed development in California leaf-nosed bats (Burns, 1981); however, such a condition not only hastened embryonic development but also resulted in significant increase in both the plasma progesterone concentration and the corpus luteum volume (this study) in Japanese long-fingered bats. Therefore, the retarded embryonic development of the long-fingered bat is a direct and passive response to the cold and depressed metabolism as indicated by Kimura & Uchida (1983), and seems to differ essentially from that of the above 2 non-hibernating species. On the other hand, in the pipistrelle bat, delayed development can take place experimentally under cold conditions after fetuses have reached a palpable size (Racey, 1973); under natural conditions also, the gestation period is extended in cold weather, and the duration of the low progesterone period that occurs between the apparent initial rise and fall in early pregnancy and the later high levels just before parturition is lengthened (Racey & Swift, 1981), and this prolonged period of low progesterone seems to coincide with the period of cold weather.…”

“…In the Japanese long-fingered bat, Miniopterus schreibersii fuliginosus, copulation in mid-October is followed closely by ovulation and fertilization (Mori & Uchida, , 1981aUchida, , b, 1982. In November, the females enter into hibernation in a pregnant condition and after having experienced a delayed implantation of about 60 days (mid-October to mid-December), the blastocyst begins to implant from mid-December to early January and then undergoes a subsequent period of delayed development (early January to March) (Kimura & Uchida, 1983). Embryonic development, however, proceeds rapidly after arousal from hibernation in early April , and the young are born in late June or early July (Uchida, 1957).…”

Cycle of the Seminiferous Epithelium in the Java Fruit Bat (Pteropus vampyrus) and the Japanese Lesser Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus cornutus).

“…Several studies have been reported on the testes of bats [6,10,[14][15][16][17]23]. Some of them were carried out from a morphological viewpoint.…”

Noradrenergic and Cholinergic Nerves in the Uterus of the Japanese Long-Fingered Bat, Miniopterus schreibersii fuliginosus, Change with Reproductive Cycle

“…The miniopterine bats are widely distributed over the temperate, subtropical and tropical zones of the Old world. In the Japanese long-fingered bats, Miniopterus schreibersii fuliginosus , copulation, ovulation and fertilization occur in autumn with a quick succession (M o -ri andUchida, 1980, 1981a, b), and implantation and subsequent embryogenesis is proceed very slowly, owing to the heterothermic hibernation (Kimura and Uchida, 1983). However, the speed of embryonic development is hastened prominently after arousal from hibernation in early spring (Kimura and Uchida, 1984), and the young are born in early summer (Uchida, 1957).…”