Mozafar Sharifi, Rostam Ghorbani, Vajiholah Akmali
Reproductive cycle in Pipistrellus kuhlii (Chiroptera,Vespertilionidae) in western Iran
The reproductive cycle of male and female Pipistrellus kuhlii are described.
Sexual activity is based on the degree of testicular and cauda epididymal
development and on histological examination of both male and female reproductive
organs. During the study spermatogenesis took place during summer
and spermatozoa were released from the testis in August and September.
Although no more spermatozoa were produced during late summer and early
autumn, they continued to be stored in the cauda epididymides for winter.
Endometrial sperm storage in the uterus of females in mid-December
together with packing and perpendicular orientation of spermatozoa toward
the endometrum indicate that Pipistrellus kuhlii mate in winter and store
spermatozoa until spring when the fertilization takes place. This study indicates
that the reproductive cycle of Pipistrellus kuhlii involves asynchrony
between primary and secondary sexual function which is typical of vespertilionid
bats inhabiting temperate latitude.
Mammalia, Walter de Gruyter
Print ISSN: 0025-1461
Volume: 68, 12/2004
Pages: 323 - 327
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