title: Evidence of androgen-dependent sperm storage in female reproductive tract of Scotophilus heathi.
abstract: The aim of present study was to investigate the role of androgen in sperm storage in the female genital tract of Scotophilus heathi. Spermatozoa were observed in the distal part of oviduct and utero-tubal junction of all the female bats collected between January and early March. Increase in circulating testosterone level coincided with the arrangement of sperm with their head oriented towards the epithelial lining of reproductive tract. Immunocytochemical and Western blot analysis revealed the presence of androgen receptor (AR) only in the distal part of the oviduct and utero-tubal junction, the site of sperm storage. Localization of AR in the cytoplasm of luminal epithelial cells in utero-tubal junction of S. heathi suggests non-genomic action of androgen at the site of sperm storage. Further study showed the presence of intense immunoreactivity of androgen binding protein (ABP) in the glandular epithelial cells of utero-tubal junction. It is hypothesized that androgen creates a unique microenvironment e.g. secretion of ABP within lumen of utero-tubal junction which helps to store spermatozoa for prolonged period in the female genital tract of S. heathi.
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India.
authors.forename: Vikas Kumar
authors.initials: VK
authors.lastname: Roy
authors.forename: Amitabh
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Krishna
mesh_terms: D000727:Androgen-Binding Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D000728:Androgens / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002685:Chiroptera / Q000502:physiology*; D005187:Fallopian Tubes / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D010057:Oviducts / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D011944:Receptors, Androgen / Q000378:metabolism; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000727:Androgen-Binding Protein; D000728:Androgens; D011944:Receptors, Androgen; D013739:Testosterone