Structure, histochemistry and ultrastructure of the male reproductive accessory glands in the neotropical flat-faced fruit-eating bat Artibeus planirostris (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae)

Chiroptera, the second largest mammalian order, presents different reproductive strategies and unique reproductive features. However, there are few reports regarding male reproductive accessory glands (RAGs) in Chiroptera. Thus, the aim of the present study was to characterise the RAGs of the exclusively neotropical bat Artibeus planirostris (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae) macroscopically, microscopically and ultrastructurally. The RAGs were composed of a prostatic complex with two regions (ventral and dorsal) and paraurethral and bulbourethral glands, but no seminal vesicles. The ventral region had an undefined epithelium, with secretory and basal cells, and its secretions were periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) positive. The dorsal region received both deferens ducts, had a columnar pseudostratified epithelium with secretory and basal cells. There were two types of secretions from the dorsal region: one that was basophilic and another that was mixed PAS positive and PAS negative. The paraurethral glands were dispersed in the connective tissue of the urethra, whereas the bulbourethral glands were located in the penile root. Histological and ultrastructural data confirmed the prostatic nature of the ventral and dorsal regions and the holocrine nature of the ventral region, with the latter finding never having been described previously for the prostate gland. Our findings demonstrate the wide discrepancy of RAGs between A. planirostris and other mammals in terms of their composition, structure and morphology. © CSIRO 2013.

Annual reproductive cycle of males of the flat-faced fruit-eating bat, Artibeus planirostris (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae)

Artibeus planirostris is an endemic species of Phyllostomid bat from the Neotropical region. Some studies have indicated that it exhibits seasonal bimodal polyestry; however, others postulate that it may be able to produce young at any time during the year. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the annual variations in testicular and epididymal parameters of this species in southeast Brazil and try to understand how the reproduction of this species is regulated in this environment. Sixty mature male specimens, collected between June 2009 and May 2010, were submitted to morphometric and immunohistochemical analysis. Our study showed that A. planirostris presented a continuously active pattern of spermatogenesis throughout the year, presenting spermatozoa inside its cauda epididymis in all months, but with two pronounced peaks of spermatogenic production, one in September and other in February. We propose that the males developed these two peaks in order to produce sufficient sperm for the reproduction in a harem system and to synchronize with the female reproductive cycle, which had a bimodal polyestric pattern. Control of this variation is directly linked to the expression of the androgen receptor (AR) in Sertoli cells and to serum testosterone levels, which appear to synchronize to establish these two peaks. In the months preceding the two peaks, the testis have a higher expression of the AR, which possibly stimulates the increase in PCNA, and drives a gradual increase in the testicular parameters. Taken together the results suggest that if sperm storage happens in this species, it is of short duration. © 2013 Elsevier Inc.

Análise molecular em morcegos do gênero Artibeus Leach, 1821 (Chiroptera, Phyllostomidae) a partir de espécimes depositados em coleção científica

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Morfofisiologia das glândulas reprodutivas acessórias masculinas de morcegos: estudo nas espécies Artibeus planirostris e Platyrrhinus lineatus (Chiroptera: Phylostomidae )

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Análise de marcadores moleculares RAPD em espécie de morcegos dos gêneros Eumops, Molossus, Eptesicus, Myotis e Artibeus (Chiroptera, Mammalia)

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Análise citogenética comparativa em espécies de morcegos dos gêneros Molossus (Molossidae), Artibeus, Platyrrhinus, Sturnira, Glossophaga, Phyllostomus e Carollia (Phyllostamide) - Chiroptera (Mammalia)

Pós-graduação em Genética - IBILCE

Estresse nos morcegos Artibeus obscurus e Artibeus fimbriatus (Chiroptera, Phyllostomidae) como resposta à perturbação ambiental

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Resposta fenotípica integrada do morcego frugívoro Artibeus lituratus (Chiroptera, phyllostomidae) frente à redução da qualidade da dieta

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Efeito da fragmentação no metabolismo energético e nível trófico em duas espécies de morcegos frugívoros, Artibeus lituratus e Carollia perspicillata (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae)

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Seasonal changes in the prostatic complex of Artibeus planirostris (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae)

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Efeito da fragmentação florestal sobre parâmetros hematológicos em três espécies de morcegos (Artibeus lituratus, Carollia perspicillata e Sturnira lilium)

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

O ato alimentar em três espécies de Artibeus de grande porte (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae) do Sudeste brasileiro

The alimentary act of three species of frugivorous bats of the genus Artibeus: A. lituratus, A. fimbriatus and A. planirostris, in a total of nine individuals, was studied by observations in field and captivity, during the months of May to September of 2008. With the objective to caracterize the form of consumption of two tipes of fruits (soft and consistent) and it relates with the dentary structure of this bats, the alimentary act was film and analysed later. It had little variation between the species. The fruits had been consumed in similar way, being that statistics analisis had demonstrated that consistent fruits had received more lateral bytes than the soft fruits. The dentary analisis shown that the posterior teeth (pre-molar and molar) present important characteristcs to triturate pieces of more consistent fruits and the incisors serve to scrape the pulp of the soft fruits. This study it served to describe the form of feeding of frugivorous bats, that little is explained in the studies of alimentary behavior

A influência da testosterona nas glândulas reprodutivas acessórias de Artibeus planirostris (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae)

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Morfologia do útero e ovários de Artibeus planirostris (Phyllostomidae: Chiroptera) durante as fases do ciclo reprodutivo

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Desmodus rotundus and Artibeus spp. bats might present distinct rabies virus lineages

In Brazil, bats have been assigned an increasing importance in public health as they are important rabies reservoirs. Phylogenetic studies have shown that rabies virus (RABV) strains from frugivorous bats Artibeus spp. are closely associated to those from the vampire bat Desmodus rotundus, but little is known about the molecular diversity of RABV in Artibeus spp. The N and G genes of RABV isolated from Artibeus spp. and cattle infected by D. rotundus were sequenced, and phylogenetic trees were constructed. The N gene nucleotides tree showed three clusters: one for D. rotundus and two for Artibeus spp. Regarding putative N amino acid-trees, two clusters were formed, one for D. rotundus and another for Artibeus spp. RABV G gene phylogeny supported the distinction between D. rotundus and Artibeus spp. strains. These results show the intricate host relationship of RABV's evolutionary history, and are invaluable for the determination of RABV infection sources. (C) 2012 Elsevier Editora Ltda. All rights reserved.