title: Comparative analysis of the male reproductive accessory glands of bat species from the five Brazilian subfamilies of the family Phyllostomidae (Chiroptera).
abstract: This study aimed to morphologically characterize and compare the male reproductive accessory glands (RAGs) of bats belonging to the five Brazilian subfamilies of the family Phyllostomidae (Carollia perspicillata-Carollinae; Desmodus rotundus-Desmodontinae; Glossophaga soricina-Glossophaginae; Phyllostomus discolor-Phyllostominae and Platyrrhinus lineatus-Stenodermatinae). The study demonstrated that the RAGs of phyllostomid bats were comprised of a pair of extra-abdominal bulbourethral glands and an intra-abdominal complex, composed of paraurethral glands and a prostate with two (Desmodontinae and Stenodermatinae) or three (Carollinae, Glossophaginae and Phyllostominae) different regions, with the absence of the seminal vesicles; this pattern possibly evolved from a process of compaction of the prostatic regions from an ancestor with three regions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, UNESP-Universidade Estadual Paulista, São José do Rio Preto, São Paulo, 15054-000, Brazil.
authors.forename: Fabiane F
authors.initials: FF
authors.lastname: Martins
authors.forename: Cintia C I
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Puga
authors.forename: Mateus R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Beguelini
authors.forename: Eliana
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Morielle-Versute
authors.forename: Patricia S L
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Vilamaior
authors.forename: Sebastião R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Taboga
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001938:Brazil; D002685:Chiroptera / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D005837:Genitalia, Male / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D008297:Male
keywords: bulbourethral gland; evolution; paraurethral gland; prostate