Gist Daniel H, Bagwill April, Lance Valentine, Sever David M, Elsey Ruth M
Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45221, USA.
J Exp Zool A Ecol Genet Physiol. 2008 Dec 1;309(10):581-7. doi: 10.1002/jez.434.
Oviducts of the American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) were examined histologically for the presence of stored sperm. Two regions containing sperm were identified, one at the junction of the posterior uterus and the vagina (UVJ) and the other at the junction of the tube and isthmus (TIJ). In these areas, sperm were found in the lumina of oviductal glands. The glands in these areas of the oviduct are diffuse and shallow and appear to allow better access to sperm than glands located elsewhere. Histochemically, the glands of the UVJ reacted weakly for carbohydrates and proteins, whereas those of the TIJ reacted strongly for these same two components, secretions of which are associated with sperm storage structures in other reptiles. Sperm were not in contact with the glandular epithelium, and glands at the UVJ contained more sperm than those at the TIJ. Oviductal sperm storage was observed not only in recently mated females but in all females possessing uterine eggs as well as all females known to be associated with a nest. We conclude that female alligators are capable of storing sperm in their oviductal glands, but not from one year to the next.
对美国短吻鳄（密西西比鳄）的输卵管进行了组织学检查，以确定是否存在储存的精子。发现了两个含有精子的区域，一个位于子宫后部与阴道的交界处（UVJ），另一个位于输卵管与峡部的交界处（TIJ）。在这些区域，精子存在于输卵管腺管腔中。输卵管这些区域的腺体分散且较浅，似乎比其他部位的腺体更有利于精子进入。组织化学分析表明，UVJ处的腺体对碳水化合物和蛋白质反应较弱，而TIJ处的腺体对这两种成分反应强烈，其分泌物与其他爬行动物的精子储存结构有关。精子未与腺上皮接触，UVJ处的腺体比TIJ处的腺体含有更多精子。不仅在近期交配的雌性短吻鳄中观察到输卵管精子储存现象，在所有怀有子宫内卵的雌性以及所有已知与巢穴有关的雌性中也观察到了这种现象。我们得出结论，雌性短吻鳄能够在其输卵管腺中储存精子，但不能跨年储存。
