title: Characterization of gametes in two phyllostomid bat species: Artibeus jamaicensis and Sturnira lilium.
abstract: Morphology of gametes is used to understand the physiological processes in reproduction among domestic and wild animals. These gametes are used in assisted reproductive technology (ART) and conservation programs. In the case of Artibeus jamaicensis and Sturnira lilium, few studies have been conducted related to these issues. The aim of this study was to describe the structure of spermatozoa, semen characteristics and also the morphology and quality of cumulus oocyte complexes (COC) of A. jamaicensis and S. lilium. Semen characteristics were: A. jamaicensis had a sperm concentration of 4.26×10(6)sperm/ml, progressive motility of 34.55%; viability of 73.23%; head, tail and mid-piece abnormalities of 12.50%. Head length was 6.26μm, mid-piece 18.61μm and tail 70.92μm. S. lilium, had a sperm concentration of 5.15×10(6)sperm/ml, progressive motility of 60.00%, viability of 83.82%; abnormalities in head, tail and mid-piece of 13.77%. Head length was 7.01μm, mid-piece 20.33μm and tail 70.50μm. On average 12.8 of right ovarian oocytes and 9.9 of left ovarian oocytes of A. jamaicensis were recovered. For S. lilium on average 10.7 oocytes from the right ovary and 10.9 oocytes from the left ovary were recovered, ranging in quality from excellent to poor. Sperm morphology and quality of COC were similar to those for other domestic and wild animals. Bat gametes can be used for the study of reproductive biology, in conservation programs and assisted reproductive technology (ART) among domestic and wild animals.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biología Celular y Fisiología, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, 04510 México, DF, Mexico.
authors.forename: Alma
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Álvarez-Guerrero
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Reproducción y Comportamiento Animal (Unidad de Investigación Multidisciplinaria), Facultad de Estudios Superiores Cuautitlán, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, 54740 Cuautitlán Izcalli, Mexico.
authors.forename: Alfredo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Medrano
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biología Celular y Fisiología, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, 04510 México, DF, Mexico. Electronic address: angelica@biomedicas.unam.mx.
authors.forename: Norma
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Moreno-Mendoza
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002685:Chiroptera / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D009865:Oocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology*; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: Artibeus jamaicensis; Bats; Morphology of oocytes; Semen analysis; Sperm morphology; Sturnira lilium