COMPARATIVE STUDY OF THE GULAR GLAND OF THREE SPECIES OF MOLOSSIDAE BATS (MAMMALIA: CHIROPTERA) FROM SOUTH AMERICA

RODRIGUEZ FLORENCIA; OLEA GABRIELA; ARGOITIA, MARIA ANTONELA; CLAVER JUAN; AGUIRRE MA. VICTORIA; LOMBARDO DANIEL

ANATOMICAL RECORD

WILEY-LISS, DIV JOHN WILEY & SONS INC

Lugar: New York; Año: 2023

0003-276X

The gular gland is a skin gland in the suprasternal region of adult males of some families ofbats. The knowledge about the morphology and functional aspects often results in of littleclarity for these gland types. This study aimed to describe the structure and composition of the gular gland of three molossids species (Eumops patagonicus, Molossus fluminensis, and Molossus molossus) concerning their reproductive activity, as well as to define the mechanism involved in the secretion release. We apply different histological,histochemical, and immunohistochemical techniques to achieve these goals. Results revealed that the size and composition of this gland are variable and mostly related to lipid content during the reproductive season. The results also document, for the first time, the occurrence of mechanoreceptors associated with the surface of the glandular duct through the detection of the S-100 protein, availing that the an external stimulus activates thesecretion release. Previous studies in other species have classified the gland with ancient criteria, hence in this research we adopted a new classification of the adenomeres. Moreover, we probed the mechanism of the gland secretion that has been proposed previously by other authors. This study defined the implicants of this gland in the reproduction of this species and characterize the chemical nature of the gular gland secretions and morphology on molossid bats of South America. Also, we present a preliminary interpretation of functional implications and reproductive behaviour.