Sperm storage in the oviduct of the tropical rock lizard, Psammophilus dorsalis

Srinivas, S. R. and Shivanandappa, T. and Hegde, S. N. and Sarkar, H. B. D. (1995) Sperm storage in the oviduct of the tropical rock lizard, Psammophilus dorsalis. Journal of Morphology, 224 (3). pp. 293-301.

Full text not available from this repository. (Request a copy)
Official URL: https://doi.org/10.1002/jmor.1052240304

Abstract

The female rock lizard, Psammophilus dorsalis (Agamidae), lays multiple clutches of eggs over a period of 6 months (June-December). The later clutches of eggs are presumably fertilized by sperm stored from earlier matings, since testes and epididymides are regressed after August. Sperm storage is seen in pockets of the anterior vaginal region of the oviduct. Sperm recovered from the uterovaginal region are intact and motile. Discrete granules resembling the secretory granules present in the vas deferens also occur along with sperm in the vaginal sperm storage structures. The PAS-positive granules and acid phosphatase form important components of the secretions present along with sperm in the vaginal sperm storage pockets. The epithelium of the vaginal sperm storage pockets is PAS-positive and contains lipid. Several enzymes, including hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases and hydrolases, are localized histochemically in the epithelium of the vaginal sperm storage pockets. A possible role is suggested for the secretions from the male reproductive tract during sperm storage in the oviduct, in which physiological `'dormancy'' of the sperm during their storage may be maintained by the metabolic `'milieu'' in the vaginal sperm storage pockets by a mechanism similar to that effecting dormancy of the epididymal sperm in the male. (C) 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Item Type: Article
Subjects: B Life Science > Zoology
Divisions: Department of > Zoology
Depositing User: Users 23 not found.
Date Deposited: 20 May 2021 08:15
Last Modified: 04 Jul 2023 07:17
URI: http://eprints.uni-mysore.ac.in/id/eprint/16504

Actions (login required)

View Item View Item