Reproductive activity in males of Sceloporus variabilis: Little time to rest,long time to breed |
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Authors: | Eric Peña-Herrera Maricela Villagrán-SantaCruz Oswaldo Hernández-Gallegos Justin L Rheubert Kevin M Gribbins Gisela Granados-González |
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Institution: | 1. Laboratorio de Morfofisiología de la Reproducción, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México, Toluca, Estado de México, México;2. Laboratorio de Biología Tisular y Reproductora, Departamento de Biología Comparada, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, México;3. Laboratorio de Herpetología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México, Toluca, Estado de México, México;4. Department of Biology, University of Findlay, Findlay, Ohio;5. Department of Biology, University of Indianapolis, Indianapolis, Indiana |
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Abstract: | The reproductive activity of reptiles is typically assessed using monthly sampling. The spermatogenic cycle of Sceloporus variabilis was recently assessed using the aforementioned methodology, and only two spermatogenic phases (recrudescence and maximum activity) were observed. The authors hypothesized that quiescence and regression must occur in a short period (less than a month), which was not visualized by their monthly sampling methods. Thus, the entire spermatogenic cycle displayed by this species may have not been adequately represented. The present study assessed the spermatogenic cycle of S. variabilis in those months where the spermatogenic activity passes from maximum activity (July) to recrudescence (August) using weekly sampling to test the hypothesis that quiescence and regression do indeed occur. The results showed a regression period for 2 weeks, whereas quiescence was not observed. These results lead us to two hypotheses: (a) quiescence occurs in a very short period (days/hours) or (b) does not occur in this species. The data generated in this study suggest that species exhibiting rapid changes in spermatogenic activity need to be assessed at more frequent intervals to accurately depict the spermatogenic stages. |
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Keywords: | histology lizard reproduction testis |
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