title: Sperm storage in Hemidactylus mabouia: Morphological and ultrastructural aspects of a reproductive strategy.
abstract: Sperm storage is a common phenomenon in most female reptiles. Evidence of sperm storage is based on the observation that female fertilization occurs even when females are separated from males, as well as the presence of agglomerates of spermatozoa in specific regions of the oviducts. Lizards are capable of storing sperm in the uterine tube, vagina, or in both regions. However, representatives of the Gekkonidae family commonly store spermatozoa in the uterine tube, which is considered an ancestral character state for Squamates. Using comparative techniques of light, transmission and scanning electron microscopy, we observed stored sperm organized in compact bundles with their heads facing the bottom of the crypts of the uterine tube, indicating chemotactic attraction. The alignment and packing of spermatozoa in Hemidactylus mabouia indicates that the process of evacuation of the crypts for fertilization may be related to the passage of the egg that exerts mechanical pressure against the walls of the uterine tube, causing its distension and the release of spermatozoa. We conclude that the sperm storage region and the morphological organization of the crypts in the uterine tube of H. mabouia is similar to other previously studied species of lizards, supporting the notion that sperm storage is a common reproductive strategy among female reptiles.
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Brazil. Electronic address: katiane@nupeb.ufop.br.
authors.forename: Katiane de Oliveira Pinto Coelho
authors.initials: Kde O
authors.lastname: Nogueira
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Brazil.
authors.forename: Sirlene Souza Rodrigues
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Sartori
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Brazil.
authors.forename: Vinícius Albano
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Araújo
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Brazil.
authors.forename: Clóvis Andrade
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Neves
authors.affiliation: Robarts Research Institute, The University of Western Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Benjamin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kolisnyk
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005187:Fallopian Tubes / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005306:Fertilization / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D012098:Reproduction / Q000502:physiology*; D012104:Reptiles / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure
keywords: Lizard; Reproductive strategy; Reptile; Sperm storage; Spermatozoa; Uterine tube