Differential transport of embryos and degenerating ova by the oviducts of the long-tongued bat, Glossophaga soricina.

Female long-tongued bats which had been maintained in sexually segregated groups in captivity for more than 8 months were bred and killed at various intervals between Days 1 and 25 post coitum. Their reproductive tracts were then examined histologically. In 20 of the 28 bats carrying tubal embryos the remnants of 1-4 other ova were also observed in the oviductal ampullae. These remnants consisted of intact zonae pellucidae containing cellular debris, empty zonae, and/or zona fragments. Since long-tongued bats are monovular, the remnants had apparently been retained in the oviducts from previous, non-fertile reproductive cycles. In 27 of the 31 bats carrying implanting blastocysts, zonae pellucidae probably shed by the embryos had been retained in the oviducts. The remnants of 1-3 ova were also observed in the oviductal ampullae of 22 of the 31 bats carrying uterine blastocysts. In at least 14 of these bats the embryos had by-passed ovum remnants in the oviducts on their way to the uterus. No evidence of such remnants was found in the oviducts of 17 animals with tubal or uterine embryos, although old, as well as new, CL were present in the ovaries.