ABSTRACT
The present paper describes the ultrastructural characteristics of the bulbo-urethral gland (Cowper' glands) of the Indian fruit bat, R. leschenaulti during sexually inactive-breeding cycle. Cyclic histological changes during the seasonal breeding quiescence cycle are not well marked. There are no marked differences. The ultrastructural characteristic of the secretory epithelial cells of Bulbo-Uretrhal Gland gland have been studied during different phases of reproductive cycle. The secretory epithelial cells are characterized by the well-developed rough endoplasmic reticulum, extensive developed complexus golgiensis (Golgi apparatus) and mitochondria. Mitochondria with lamellate cristae are dispersed in the cytoplasm. Three different types of secretory granules can be identified on the basis of electron density. These granules are not of different types but they represent the different stages of granule maturation. The secretory products of bulbo-urethral gland of bat are released into lumen both by apocrine and merocrine modes. The functional significance of the secretions of the bulbo-urethral glands in reproduction is discussed.
El presente trabajo describe las características ultraestructurales de las glándulas bulbouretrales (glándulas de Cowper) del murciélago de la fruta de la India, R. leschenaulti durante el ciclo inactivo de reproducción sexual. Los cambios histológicos cíclicos durante el ciclo de quiescencia estacional de la cría no están bien determinados. No hay diferencias marcadas. La característica ultra estructural de las células epiteliales secretoras de la glándula bulbouretral ha sido estudiada durante diferentes fases del ciclo reproductivo. Las células epiteliales secretoras se caracterizan por un retículo endoplasmático rugoso bien desarrollado, el complexus golgiensis (complejo de Golgi) y mitocondrias desarrollados extensamente. Las mitocondrias con crestas lamelares se encontraron dispersas en el citoplasma. Se pueden identificar tres tipos diferentes de gránulos secretores en base a la densidad de electrones. Estos gránulos no son de tipos diferentes, sino que representan las diferentes etapas de maduración del gránulo. Los productos secretores de las glándulas bulbouretrales de murciélagos son liberados en el lumen tanto por modos apócrinos como merócrinos. Se discute la importancia funcional de las secreciones de la glándula bulbouretral en la reproducción.
Subject(s)
Animals , Bulbourethral Glands/ultrastructure , Chiroptera/anatomy & histology , Epithelial Cells/ultrastructure , Acinar Cells/ultrastructure , Bulbourethral Glands/metabolism , ReproductionABSTRACT
Clean wool colour (CWC) is an important wool price determinant and has been related to suint characteristics, i.e. sudoriparous and sebaceous gland secretions, such as suint percentage and suint K content. In this work heritability, phenotypic and genetic correlations among wool colour and skin traits were examined. The genetic estimates were assessed by Restricted Maximum Likelihood (REML) procedures using average information algorithm (AIREML) in a Corriedale flock. The traits analysed were wool colour traits (CWC), yellow predictive colour (YPC), and Visual Score; suint traits such as suint percentage and potassium and sodium concentrations in suint, and physiological traits such as potassium and sodium concentrations in the skin, including plasma and red blood cells. The objectives of this study were to assess phenotypic and genetic correlations between wool colour and skin traits, and to find the suitability of these traits as indirect selection criteria for clean wool colour. Suint traits were highly genetically correlated to YPC. Suint K, but not suint percentage, was found to have a high genetic correlation with CWC. Skin K, Visual Score, YPC and suint K were amongst the best indirect selection criteria for clean wool colour. However, selection using these traits was expected to reduce CWC from 52 percent to 49 percent of that estimated under direct selection