title: Structure, histochemistry and seasonal variations of the male reproductive accessory glands in the Pallas's mastiff bat, Molossus molossus (Chiroptera: Molossidae).
abstract: Due to their wide geographical distribution, bats suffer considerable influence from abiotic factors on their reproductive strategies, detected through behavioural or functional assessment of the gonads and accessory glands. The present study aimed to characterise anatomically and morphologically the reproductive accessory glands (RAGs) of Molossus molossus (Molossidae) and evaluate their seasonal variations. The RAGs were removed, fixed, sectioned after histological processing and submitted to the following stains: haematoxylin-eosin, periodic acid--Schiff (PAS) and Gömöri's reticulin. Our data demonstrated that the RAGs of M. molossus are composed of a semi-lobed prostatic complex associated with the urethra and a pair of inguinal bulbourethral glands. Histology and three-dimensional reconstruction of the prostatic complex demonstrated the existence of two regions: ventral and dorsal (named according to the position around the urethra). The two regions had distinctive morphological and histological differences, with the ventral region being the most prominent and the dorsal formed by four lobes. Considering the seasonal evaluation, we can infer that the prostatic complex of M. molossus is active throughout the seasons in São Paulo State (Brazil) and, although each of the prostatic regions has inherent characteristics, they synchronise to establish the main reproductive peak in spring (early rainy season).
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, UNESP - Univ. Estadual Paulista, São José do Rio Preto, São Paulo, 15054-000, Brazil.
authors.forename: Caroline M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Christante
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, UNESP - Univ. Estadual Paulista, São José do Rio Preto, São Paulo, 15054-000, Brazil.
authors.forename: Mateus R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Beguelini
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, UNESP - Univ. Estadual Paulista, São José do Rio Preto, São Paulo, 15054-000, Brazil.
authors.forename: Cintia C I
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Puga
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, UNESP - Univ. Estadual Paulista, São José do Rio Preto, São Paulo, 15054-000, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ana C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Negrin
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology and Botany, UNESP - Univ. Estadual Paulista, São José do Rio Preto, São Paulo, 15054-000, Brazil.
authors.forename: Eliana
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Morielle-Versute
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, UNESP - Univ. Estadual Paulista, São José do Rio Preto, São Paulo, 15054-000, Brazil.
authors.forename: Patrícia S L
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Vilamaior
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, UNESP - Univ. Estadual Paulista, São José do Rio Preto, São Paulo, 15054-000, Brazil.
authors.forename: Sebastião R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Taboga
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001938:Brazil; D002030:Bulbourethral Glands / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000378:metabolism*; D002685:Chiroptera / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D008297:Male; D011467:Prostate / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D012098:Reproduction / Q000502:physiology*; D012621:Seasons