Juan J. Pérez-Rivero; Emilio Rendon-Franco; Mario Pérez-Martínez; Alejandro Ávalos-Rodríguez & Rafael Ávila-Flores

Most of the neotropical bats reproduce in a seasonal fashion. The purpose of this study was to assess changes in testicular tissue by morphometry, in Tadarida brasiliensis bat, in a south urban zone of Mexico City during summer, autumn, and winter. Three sample collections (February, June, and September) from T. brasiliensis were carried out (n=6). Testicle fragments were obtained for histological studies. Diameter of the seminiferous tubules and interstitial space were measured, cellular populations were identified and counted. June samples showed smaller diameter of seminiferous tubules and larger interstitial space between tubules; also there were less number of germinal epithelium cells and spermatids were absent. Tissues from September and February showed a significant increase (p≤ 0.05) in tubule diameter, germinal epithelium thickness, and number of germinal epithelium cells when compared to June samples. Only February samples showed presence of spermatids. Our results suggest the existence of seasonal variations in the reproductive activity of T. brasiliensis, under conditions in which the study was conducted.

KEY WORDS: Tadarida brasiliensis; Morphometry; Testicle; Seasonal changes.

PÉREZ-RIVERO, J.; RENDON-FRANCO, E.; PÉREZ-MARTÍNEZ, M.; ÁVALOS-RODRIGUEZ, A. & AVILA-FLORES, R. Morphometric differences in testicular tissue of Tadarida brasiliensis bats from the urban area of Mexico City during summer, autumn, and winter. Int. J. Morphol., 31(3):932-936, 2013.