Male reproductive patterns in hibernating bats

Gustafson, A. W.

doi:10.1530/jrf.0.0560317

Cited by 130 publications

(126 citation statements)

References 22 publications

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“…The asynchrony of primary and secondary sexual functions is a common feature of the hiber¬ nating bats (Miller, 1939;Pearson et al, 1952;Krutzsch, 1961Krutzsch, , 1975Racey, 1974;Racey & Tarn, 1974;Gustafson, 1976Gustafson, , 1979Bernard, 1986;Krutzsch & Crichton, 1986) but has not previously been reported for a tropical bat, while even in temperate-zone bats in which asynchrony does occur the separation is never as dichotomous as it would appear to be in the common sheath-tail bat. Clearly in this species the separation enables the insemination of females close to ovulation, but an interesting question is why the burden of sperm storage falls on the male with the consequential complications of the separation of primary and secondary sexual functions.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Spermatogenesis begins in summer and declines with the onset of cooler weather at the end of autumn. Gustafson (1979) suggested that the best indication of accessory gland activity may be the thickness of accessory gland epithelium. In the present study there were no significant changes in the thickness of the accessory gland epithelium, and the slight thinning observed in spring appeared to be due to distension of the glands by secretion.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Prolonged epididymal sperm storage, and the temporal dissociation of testicular and accessory gland activity in the common sheath-tail bat, Taphozous georgianus, of tropical Australia

Jolly

Blackshaw²

1987

Reproduction

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Summary. Peak spermatogenic activity of the common sheath-tail bat occurs in autumn, declines over winter and ceases in spring. Accessory glands enlarge in spring when mating occurs, but are regressed at other times of the year. Spermatozoa are stored in the cauda epididymidis throughout the year, and their numbers increase progressively from early summer to late autumn. Sperm storage permits asynchrony of male and female cycles and allows each to be optimally timed in relation to environmental conditions. The temporal separation of primary and secondary sexual functions in the male enables the insemination of females close to ovulation and is a consequence of the burden of sperm storage being placed upon the male.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prolonged epididymal sperm storage, and the temporal dissociation of testicular and accessory gland activity in the common sheath-tail bat, Taphozous georgianus, of tropical Australia

Jolly

Blackshaw²

1987

Reproduction

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“…In addition, if sperm storage occurred in banana bat females in Mpumalanga, an increase in the amount of spermatozoa in the female tract would be expected over the three month period from May to July due to regular copulations. Copulations during the hibernation period are not uncommon amongst bats (Gustafson 1979;Tidemann 1982;Van der Merwe & Rautenbach 1990;Feldhamer et al 1999;Vaughn et al 2000).…”

Section: Sperm Storagementioning

confidence: 99%

Reproduction of the banana bat, Neoromicia nanus, in Mpumalanga Province, South Africa, with a discussion on sperm storage and latitudinal effects on reproductive strategies

Merwe¹,

Stirnemann²

2007

South African Journal of Wildlife Research

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The banana bat, Neoromicia nanus, is characterized by seasonal monoestrous breeding. This study examined the reproductive timing and strategies used by N. nanus in the Province of Mpumalanga, South Africa. Male and female bats were histologically examined to determine their reproductive condition throughout the year. Spermatogenesis in the banana bat began in late September and spermatozoa were released into the caudae epididymides from late April to late July. Spermatozoa remained present in the caudae epididymides throughout August. Mating was initiated in May and ovulation and fertilization occurred at the beginning of August. Implantations first occurred during early August and parturition followed from late October to the end of November. Lactating females were found until mid January. In contrast to the same species in Malawi, it appears that in Mpumalanga no sperm storage takes place in females and occurs for only a short period in males. Reproductive timing was approximately one month earlier in Mpumalanga than in Malawi.

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“…Temperate-zone vespertilionid bats exhibit several unique features in their reproductive cycle such as prolonged sperm retention in the epididymis, asynchronous renewal of gametogenesis and the accessory reproductive organs and asynchrony of the period of spermatogenesis and copulation (Gustafson, 1979(Gustafson, , 1987. It is suggested that these peculiarities associated with reproduction in the temperate-zone vespertilionids have evolved as a result of the superimposition of the period of hibernation on the season of reproduction (Racey, 1982).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Changes in the thyroid gland during the reproductive cycle of the male vespertilionid bat, Scotophilus heathi

Krishna

Singh

1998

Rev. Bras. Biol.

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The aim of present study was to compare the changes in thyroid gland with the reproductive cycle of S. heathi. Thyroid showed marked seasonal variation in weight, quantity of colloid and follicular epithelial height, suggesting the thyroid gland to be inactive during quiescence and winter dormancy and active during the time of recrudescence and breeding similarly to the testicular cycle. Plasma thyroxin (T 4 ) concentration showed a significant seasonal change with high concentration during breeding and post-breeding and low concentration during quiescence. However, the T 4 concentration increased from breeding to post-breeding phase, when the testes weight was declining. It is suggested that in S. heathi the positive correlation between thyroid and testicular cycles occurs only during the phases of the reproductive cycle when the body weight and testicular activity are also closely correlated.Key words: Thyroid, thyroxin, testes, bat, body weight, reproduction. RESUMO Mudanças na glândula tireóide durante o ciclo reprodutivo masculino em um morcego vespertilionídeo Scotophilus heathiO objetivo do presente estudo foi comparar as mudanças na glândula tireóide com o ciclo reprodutivo de S. heathi. A tireóide mostrou variação sazonal marcada em peso, quantidade de colóide e altura do epitélio folicular, sugerindo que esta glândula está inativa durante a quiescência e o torpor de inverno e ativa durante o tempo de recrudescência e acasalamento, similarmente ao ciclo testicular. A concentração de tiroxina (T 4 ) do plasma mostrou significantes mudanças sazonais com alta concentração durante o acasalamento e pós-acasalamento e baixa concentração durante a quiescência. Entretanto, a concentração plasmática de T 4 aumentou da fase reprodutiva à pós-reprodutiva, quando o peso dos testículos estava se reduzindo. Sugere-se que, em S. heathi, a estreita correlação entre os ciclos testicular e tireóideo durante algumas fases do ciclo reprodutivo esteja relacionada à sensibilidade aumentada no período reprodutivo e à atividade metabólica.

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Male reproductive patterns in hibernating bats

Cited by 130 publications

References 22 publications

Prolonged epididymal sperm storage, and the temporal dissociation of testicular and accessory gland activity in the common sheath-tail bat, Taphozous georgianus, of tropical Australia

Prolonged epididymal sperm storage, and the temporal dissociation of testicular and accessory gland activity in the common sheath-tail bat, Taphozous georgianus, of tropical Australia

Reproduction of the banana bat, Neoromicia nanus, in Mpumalanga Province, South Africa, with a discussion on sperm storage and latitudinal effects on reproductive strategies

Changes in the thyroid gland during the reproductive cycle of the male vespertilionid bat, Scotophilus heathi

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