The relationship between spermatozoa and epithelium of the female genital tract during sperm storage in the greater yellow bats (Scotophilus heathi): the light and electronmicroscopic observations.

Abstract

The present paper describes the relationship between spermatozoa and the epithelium of the female genital tract during sperm storage in greater yellow bats, Scotophilus heathi. All the female bats collected from mid-January till ovulation in early March showed the presence of spermatozoa with their heads orientated towards the epithelial lining of the female genital tract. During this period, the epithelial cells of the uterine horn showed extensive endoplasmic reticulum (ER), numerous mitochondria and well developed Golgi complexes. In females inseminated during December, the spermatozoa were not arranged linearly and showed signs of degeneration. During December, the uterine epithelial cells contained only a few small mitochondria and less developed rough ER. The leucocytes and Langerhans cells were frequently seen in the epithelial lining during the course of sperm storage especially at the site of phagocytised sperm heads.