title: Functional morphology of the tubular genital organs in the female owl monkey (Aotus spp.).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Studies on reproductive morphology are important to understand the reproductive cycle of non-human primates.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study describes the functional morphology of the adult female tubular genital organs in 41 Aotus (12.8 ± 6.8 years old, ranging from 3 to 25 years), with respect to reproductive status and number of parturitions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In females with developing embryos, endometrial glands showed a higher secretion than other females, and the embryo implantation occupied this secretive endometrium. Changes in the thickening, number of layers, and keratinization in the vaginal epithelium suggest that vaginal cytology may be an indicator of the estrous cycle. Non-pregnant multiparous females had a larger uterine body than nulliparous females. Number of parturitions and reproductive state had an impact on tubular genital organs in female owl monkeys.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results can be useful for the development of biotechnologies of reproduction and for improvement of the management of this species.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Health and Anatomy, Faculty of Veterinary, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain.|YAVACUS, Yavarí Conservación y Uso Sostenible, Iquitos, Perú
authors.forename: Pedro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mayor
authors.affiliation: Department of Ecology and Social Behavior, Primate Research Institute, Kyoto University, Inuyama, Aichi, Japan.
authors.forename: Rafaela Sayuri Cicalise
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Takeshita
authors.affiliation: Postgraduate Program in Animal Health and Production in Amazonia, Universidade Federal Rural da Amazonia, Belém, Pará, Brazil.
authors.forename: Leandro Nassar
authors.initials: LN
authors.lastname: Coutinho
authors.affiliation: Instituto Veterinario de Investigaciones Tropicales y de Altura, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Iquitos, Perú
authors.forename: Nofre
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sánchez
authors.affiliation: Instituto Veterinario de Investigaciones Tropicales y de Altura, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Iquitos, Perú
authors.forename: Hugo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gálvez
authors.affiliation: Instituto Veterinario de Investigaciones Tropicales y de Altura, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Iquitos, Perú
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ique
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Sciences, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Bastrop, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Julio Cesar
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Ruiz
authors.affiliation: Postgraduate Program in Animal Health and Production in Amazonia, Universidade Federal Rural da Amazonia, Belém, Pará, Brazil.|Department of Veterinary Sciences, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Bastrop, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Frederico Ozanan Barros
authors.initials: FO
authors.lastname: Monteiro
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016645:Aotidae / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology*; D004717:Endometrium / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology; D004848:Epithelium / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology; D030762:Estrous Cycle; D005260:Female; D005836:Genitalia, Female / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology*; D010298:Parity; D011247:Pregnancy; D012098:Reproduction; D014599:Uterus / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D014621:Vagina / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology
keywords: Aotus; female; owl monkey; reproduction; tubular genital organs