Histomorphometric evaluation of the Molossus molossus (Chiroptera, Molossidae) testis: The tubular compartment and indices of sperm production

Insectivorous bats play a very important role in the regulation of tropical ecosystems, but information about their reproductive cycle is lacking. Thus, male Molossus molossus were captured over the four seasons, and morphometric analyses of their testes were conducted to infer on the gonadal dynamics and the reproductive capacity of the species. Testes were immersed in Karnovsky fixative, and fragments were embedded in methacrylate and paraplast for morphometric and TUNEL assay respectively. The least gonadosomatic index (0.3%), tubulesomatic index (0.2%) and tubular diameter (133.2 μm) occurred in summer. An adult M. molossus showed a total average of 48.9 m of seminiferous tubules per gram of testis. Primary spermatocytes were observed in the zygotene at Stage 1 of the seminiferous epithelium cycle. The greatest meiotic index was obtained in winter (3.8 cells), and the general yield of spermatogenesis was higher in winter (64.5 cells) than in summer (19.1 cells). There was no difference in the apoptotic cells count among seasons. The Sertoli cell index was less in summer (5.9) than in fall (11.6), while the number of Sertoli cells per gram of testis did not vary significantly among the seasons (28.0 × 107). The spermatic reserve per gram of testis was greater in the fall (63.9 × 107) and winter (69.8 × 107) than summer (37.1 × 107). We conclude that M. molossus males show a continuous reproductive cycle, featuring greater spermatogenic activity during the fall and winter, a tubular length above the average of other mammals and a less support capacity of the Sertoli cells.