Morphology of the Ovaries, Uterine Tubes and Uterus of Pteronotus gymnonotus (Chiroptera: Mormoopidae)

Abstract

The present study aimed to characterize the ovarian, tubal and uterine morphology in the insectivorous bat Pteronotus gymnonotus, in specimens collected in the state of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil. After euthanasia, these organs were histologically processed for inclusion in historesin for morphological and morphometric analysis under light microscopy. The morphological characterization of the ovaries was based on the development of the oocyte and follicle growth, while the uterine tubes were characterized in terms of their anatomy and division of their parts into: infundibulum, ampulla and isthmus, where the height of the tubal epithelium and muscle layer thickness. The analysis of the uterus was based on the formation and thickness of its three layers: endometrium, myometrium and perimetrium. Morphometric analyzes were performed by capturing images of histological slides at different magnifications. The variables were submitted to descriptive analysis, with data expressed as mean and standard deviation. It was observed that the ovaries are bilateral and oval, presenting a squamous to simple cubic epithelium, forming the germinal epithelium, certain stratification regarding the location of the ovarian follicles, where most of the primordial follicles are arranged in the peripheral region of the ovary, however being it is possible to identify many follicles in various stages of maturation in the central region; the uterus is bicornuate and the layers of the uterus and uterine tubes observed follow the same pattern of other eutherian mammals. This information is important to allow comparisons between species, aiming at knowledge about reproductive morphology in mammals, especially those belonging to the order Chiroptera. Therefore, this research is essential to subsidize conservation measures that protect their natural populations, in an effort to maintain the ecological balance.