Histological findings of sperm storage in green turtle (Chelonia mydas) oviduct.
Sci Rep
; 11(1): 19416, 2021 09 30.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-34593919
ABSTRACT
Green turtles (Chelonia mydas) are seasonal breeders with a time lag between mating and nesting periods. We therefore investigated whether female turtles store sperm like some other animals by histologically and ultrastructurally analyzing oviducts collected from three mature female free-ranging green turtles during the breeding season in the Ogasawara Islands, Japan. The oviduct comprised an infundibulum, magnum, isthmus, uterus, and vagina. Sperm was found in the isthmus of all turtles examined. Some spermatozoa were found in the duct and acini of glands in the isthmus of two turtles with oviducts containing eggs, and a few were also located in the transition area between the uterus and vagina of one of the turtles. On the other hand, we also found abundant spermatozoa on the luminal surface of the isthmus of one turtle captured during mating. In most reptiles, fertilization occurs in the infundibulum or albumen region, and thus the isthmus near those areas might be suitable for storing sperm in female turtles.
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Oviducts
/
Reproduction
/
Spermatozoa
/
Turtles
Type of study:
Diagnostic_studies
Limits:
Animals
Country/Region as subject:
Asia
Language:
En
Journal:
Sci Rep
Year:
2021
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country: