Morfologia do sistema reprodutor masculino de serpentes brasileiras da família Boidae : aspectos anatômicos, histológicos e suas relações com a biologia reprodutiva

Abstract

With a worldwide distribution, snakes of the Boidae family are found in the Americas, India, Central Africa, southern Asia and South Pacific islands. In Brazil, four genera are found: Eunectes, Corallus, Epicrates and Boa. Snakes have anatomical, biological and behavioral particularities that greatly differentiate them from other animal species. Basic information about the anatomy, physiology and reproductive biology of individuals in this group is scarce in many species, which makes reproduction difficult (either naturally or with the use of of biotechnologies). Thus, the present study aims to describe the male reproductive system morphology of Brazilian Boidae snakes family, correlating the anatomical and histological aspects with the reproductive biology. The reproductive and renal systems of Epicrates cenchria, Corallus hortulanus and Boa constrictor specimens were obtained, as well as, a fragment of the hemipenis magnus retractor muscle from Eunectes murinus specimen. Tissue samples were histologically processed and different stains were used (Toluidine Blue, Alcian Blue, Hematoxyl-Eosin and PAS). In E. cenchria it is possible to observe seasonality in sperm production, with the presence of mature sperm in the wettest and hottest periods of the year, as well as, the highest testicular volume in these periods. Hemipenis with striated musculature is evident in Brazilian Boidae with nuclei that tend to be located centrally to the fiber bundle (typical of cardiac musculature in mammals). The Renal Sexual Segment in E. cechria shows variations when comparing individuals in and out of the reproductive period, with secretory activity in both periods.