Gonadal morphogenesis and establishment of the germline in the phyllostomid bat Sturnira lilium.

In vertebrates such as the mouse and the human, primordial germ cells (PGCs) arise at the base of the allantois and are carried to the epithelium of the posterior intestine, to later migrate to the primordial gonads. In the case of bats, almost nothing is known about this process. To clarify the dynamics of PGCs during gonadal morphogenesis in the phyllostomid bat Sturnira lilium, the proteins for the Ddx4, Sox9 and Mis genes were detected in the gonads of embryos at different stages of development. We identified 15 stages (St) of embryonic development in Sturnira lilium. We found that the formation of the genital ridge and the establishment of the undifferentiated gonad take place between stages 11 and 14. The onset of morphological differentiation in the gonad is first detected in the male gonads at St17. The first PGCs in meiosis are detected in the ovary at St19, whereas in the testicles, the PGCs were in mitotic arrest. Structural changes leading to testicular and ovarian development in Sturnira lilium are observed to be similar to those described for the mouse; however, differences will be established concerning the time taken for these processes to occur.

Fluctuating asymmetry in populations of bats: species adapted to urban environments are not hampered by habitat degradation

Fluctuating asymmetry is a biological phenomenon defined by directionally departures from perfect symmetry and is hypothesized to indicate the inability of an organism to maintain precise development. Furthermore, its measurement permits evaluation of levels of stress during development of organisms, since asymmetric patterns indicate a stressful environment during ontogeny. This study aimed to assess whether there is significant difference between body sides in two bat species adapted to urban environments and if there is significant difference in levels of asymmetry in various body regions. Bats, Artibeus planirostris (n = 89) and Sturnira lilium (n = 36), were studied. In most body parts, there was no significant difference between sides, suggesting that species adapted to a human environment were not hampered. Moreover, we observed that bat forelimbs had the lowest levels of asymmetry (p 0.05 between the hindlimb and forelimb, and p 0.01 between the head and forelimb, on females of S. lilium). Some studies suggest a ranking of importance of body parts based on the degree of asymmetry. This study highlighted the importance of the forelimbs in bats and suggested that they are not hampered by adaptation to human environments.(AU)

Fluctuating asymmetry in populations of bats: species adapted to urban environments are not hampered by habitat degradation

Fluctuating asymmetry is a biological phenomenon defined by directionally departures from perfect symmetry and is hypothesized to indicate the inability of an organism to maintain precise development. Furthermore, its measurement permits evaluation of levels of stress during development of organisms, since asymmetric patterns indicate a stressful environment during ontogeny. This study aimed to assess whether there is significant difference between body sides in two bat species adapted to urban environments and if there is significant difference in levels of asymmetry in various body regions. Bats, Artibeus planirostris (n = 89) and Sturnira lilium (n = 36), were studied. In most body parts, there was no significant difference between sides, suggesting that species adapted to a human environment were not hampered. Moreover, we observed that bat forelimbs had the lowest levels of asymmetry (p 0.05 between the hindlimb and forelimb, and p 0.01 between the head and forelimb, on females of S. lilium). Some studies suggest a ranking of importance of body parts based on the degree of asymmetry. This study highlighted the importance of the forelimbs in bats and suggested that they are not hampered by adaptation to human environments.

High paracellular nutrient absorption in intact bats is associated with high paracellular permeability in perfused intestinal segments.

Water-soluble nutrients are absorbed by the small intestine via transcellular and paracellular mechanisms. Based on a few previous studies, the capacity for paracellular nutrient absorption seems greater in flying mammals than in nonflying mammals, but there has been little investigation of the mechanisms driving this difference. Therefore, we studied three species each of bats (Artibeus lituratus, Sturnira lilium and Carollia perspicillata) and nonflying mammals (Akodon montensis, Mus musculus and Rattus norvegicus). Using standard pharmacokinetic techniques in intact animals, we confirmed the greater paracellular nutrient absorption in the fliers, comparing one species in each group. Then we conducted in situ intestinal perfusions on individuals of all species. In both approaches, we measured the absorption of 3OMD-glucose, a nonmetabolizable glucose analog absorbed both paracellularly and transcellularly, as well as L-arabinose, which has no mediated transport. Fractional absorption of L-arabinose was three times higher in the bat (S. lilium: 1.2±0.24) than in the rodent (A. montensis: 0.35±0.04), whereas fractional absorption of 3OMD-glucose was complete in both species (1.46±0.4 and 0.97±0.12, respectively). In agreement, bats exhibited two to 12 times higher l-arabinose clearance per square centimeter nominal surface area than rodents in intestinal perfusions. Using L-arabinose, we estimated that the contribution of the paracellular pathway to total glucose absorption was higher in all three bats (109-137%) than in the rodents (13-39%). These findings contribute to an emerging picture that reliance on the paracellular pathway for nutrient absorption is much greater in bats relative to nonflying mammals and that this difference is driven by differences in intestinal permeability to nutrient-sized molecules.

Characterization of gametes in two phyllostomid bat species: Artibeus jamaicensis and Sturnira lilium.

Morphology of gametes is used to understand the physiological processes in reproduction among domestic and wild animals. These gametes are used in assisted reproductive technology (ART) and conservation programs. In the case of Artibeus jamaicensis and Sturnira lilium, few studies have been conducted related to these issues. The aim of this study was to describe the structure of spermatozoa, semen characteristics and also the morphology and quality of cumulus oocyte complexes (COC) of A. jamaicensis and S. lilium. Semen characteristics were: A. jamaicensis had a sperm concentration of 4.26×10(6)sperm/ml, progressive motility of 34.55%; viability of 73.23%; head, tail and mid-piece abnormalities of 12.50%. Head length was 6.26µm, mid-piece 18.61µm and tail 70.92µm. S. lilium, had a sperm concentration of 5.15×10(6)sperm/ml, progressive motility of 60.00%, viability of 83.82%; abnormalities in head, tail and mid-piece of 13.77%. Head length was 7.01µm, mid-piece 20.33µm and tail 70.50µm. On average 12.8 of right ovarian oocytes and 9.9 of left ovarian oocytes of A. jamaicensis were recovered. For S. lilium on average 10.7 oocytes from the right ovary and 10.9 oocytes from the left ovary were recovered, ranging in quality from excellent to poor. Sperm morphology and quality of COC were similar to those for other domestic and wild animals. Bat gametes can be used for the study of reproductive biology, in conservation programs and assisted reproductive technology (ART) among domestic and wild animals.

Primer Registro de Leucismo en Sturnira lilium (Phyllostomidae) en el Sureste del Perú

El leucismo consiste en la pérdida completa de un pigmento en particular o de todos los pigmentos, excepto aquellos de partes blandas. Durante un estudio realizado en la selva baja del departamento de Madre de Dios (Perú) se capturó un ejemplar de Sturnira lilium, con pigmentaciones anormales. La coloración general del espécimen es blanca, ojos negros y manchas grises irregulares en las membranas alares. Este es el primer caso de leucismo en un murciélago para Perú y es el primer registro de esta condición para esta especie.

The leucism it consists in the loss of a pigment in particular or all pigments, except those of soft parts. During a study in the low forest of Madre de Dios Department (Peru), we captured a specimen of Sturnira lilium with abnormal pigmentations. The general coloration of the specimen is white, with black eyes and with irregular gray spots on the alar membranes. This is the first case of leucism in a bat from Peru and the first record of this condition for this species.

Primer Registro de Leucismo en Sturnira lilium (Phyllostomidae) en el Sureste del Perú

El leucismo consiste en la pérdida completa de un pigmento en particular o de todos los pigmentos, excepto aquellos de partes blandas. Durante un estudio realizado en la selva baja del departamento de Madre de Dios (Perú) se capturó un ejemplar de Sturnira lilium, con pigmentaciones anormales. La coloración general del espécimen es blanca, ojos negros y manchas grises irregulares en las membranas alares. Este es el primer caso de leucismo en un murciélago para Perú y es el primer registro de esta condición para esta especie.

The leucism it consists in the loss of a pigment in particular or all pigments, except those of soft parts. During a study in the low forest of Madre de Dios Department (Peru), we captured a specimen of Sturnira lilium with abnormal pigmentations. The general coloration of the specimen is white, with black eyes and with irregular gray spots on the alar membranes. This is the first case of leucism in a bat from Peru and the first record of this condition for this species.

Note on the consumption of fruits of Billbergia zebrina (Bromeliaceae) by Sturnira lilium (Chiroptera, Phyllostomidae) in southern Brazil / Nota sobre o consumo de frutos de Billbergia zebrina (Bromeliaceae) por Sturnira lilium (Chiroptera, Phyllostomidae) no sul do Brasil

Sturnira lilium was colected from December 2006 to May 2009, in remainder of restinga vegetation in Santa Catarina state. In three opportunities we observed the presence of seeds of Billbergia zebrina in feces of S. lilium. The fruits of Bromeliaceae are rare as part of the diet of bats in the Neotropical area. This is the first record of B. zebrine in the diet of S. lilium.

Durante as amostragens de morcegos que ocorreram de dezembro de 2006 a maio de 2009, em remanescente de vegetação de restinga sul de Santa Catarina, em três oportunidades foi observada a presença de sementes de Billbergia zebrina em fezes de indivíduos de Sturnira lilium. O registro de utilização de frutos de bromeliáceas como parte da dieta de morcegos frugívoros na região Neotropical é raro. Este é o primeiro registro de consumo de frutos B. zebrina por S. lilium.

Note on the consumption of fruits of Billbergia zebrina (Bromeliaceae) by Sturnira lilium (Chiroptera, Phyllostomidae) in southern Brazil / Nota sobre o consumo de frutos de Billbergia zebrina (Bromeliaceae) por Sturnira lilium (Chiroptera, Phyllostomidae) no sul do Brasil

Sturnira lilium was colected from December 2006 to May 2009, in remainder of restinga vegetation in Santa Catarina state. In three opportunities we observed the presence of seeds of Billbergia zebrina in feces of S. lilium. The fruits of Bromeliaceae are rare as part of the diet of bats in the Neotropical area. This is the first record of B. zebrine in the diet of S. lilium.

Durante as amostragens de morcegos que ocorreram de dezembro de 2006 a maio de 2009, em remanescente de vegetação de restinga sul de Santa Catarina, em três oportunidades foi observada a presença de sementes de Billbergia zebrina em fezes de indivíduos de Sturnira lilium. O registro de utilização de frutos de bromeliáceas como parte da dieta de morcegos frugívoros na região Neotropical é raro. Este é o primeiro registro de consumo de frutos B. zebrina por S. lilium.