Variation in Female Reproductive Tract Morphology of the Common Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops truncatus)

The Anatomical Record : Advances in Integrative Anatomy and Evolutionary Biology
Dara N OrbachSarah L Mesnick

Abstract

Cetaceans exhibit vaginal folds, unusual protrusions of the vaginal wall into the vaginal lumen. Inconsistent terminology and a lack of anatomical landmarks in the literature have hindered comparative studies of the form and function of vaginal folds. Our objectives are to: (1) develop a standardized measurement protocol for the reproductive tracts of female cetaceans, (2) assess variation in morphometrics within the common bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus), and (3) determine if vaginal muscle is skeletal, and therefore of somatic origin in this species. We selected 15 measurements to characterize female reproductive tracts and evaluated variability using fresh or frozen-thawed specimens from southeastern USA representing a range of sexual maturity states and reproductive states (n = 18 specimens). Presence of skeletal muscle and variation in the density of muscle banding were assessed using 90 histological samples (n = 5 specimens). Analyses of the gross morphological data revealed that the dolphins generally had one large vaginal fold that bisected the vaginal lumen. Vaginal morphology was similar for sexually mature and immature specimens and across reproductive states. The histological data revealed that the vaginal m...Continue Reading

References

Jan 1, 1991·Reproduction, Fertility, and Development·L H Crane, L Martin
Jul 1, 1991·Journal of Wildlife Diseases·C D Woodhouse, C J Rennie
Mar 1, 1989·The Journal of Experimental Zoology·J P Schroeder, K V Keller
Feb 1, 1985·Archives of Disease in Childhood·S SalardiA Reggiani
Aug 1, 1972·Journal of Mammalogy·G V Morejohn, D M Baltz
May 1, 1968·Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, and Oral Pathology
Nov 1, 1968·Journal of Reproduction and Fertility·P E Mattner
Sep 1, 1967·The American Journal of Anatomy·E Rosengren, N O Sjöberg
Feb 1, 1983·The Anatomical Record·T M Oelrich
Jun 1, 1980·Journal of Speech and Hearing Research·D J ThompsonD M Bui
Apr 22, 1993·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·M Gomendio, E R Roldan
Feb 19, 2000·Behavioural Brain Research·M Carro-Juárez, G Rodríguez-Manzo
May 12, 2000·Journal of Comparative Pathology·M F Van BressemJ C Reyes
Jun 24, 2000·Nature·T Pizzari, T R Birkhead
May 30, 2002·AJR. American Journal of Roentgenology·Liliane Diefenthaeler HerterPoli Mara Spritzer
Oct 2, 2002·Reproduction in Domestic Animals = Zuchthygiene·K ChatdarongC Linde-Forsberg
Mar 14, 2003·Journal of Morphology·Gerald R CunhaStephen E Glickman
Apr 8, 2003·Current Medicinal Chemistry. Anti-cancer Agents·A G Papatsoris, A G Papavassiliou
Jul 17, 2004·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·Shelley A EtnierD Ann Pabst
Apr 28, 2005·Reproduction : the Official Journal of the Society for the Study of Fertility·T R RobeckS L Monfort
Jun 28, 2005·The Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology·L BergerF Labrie
Dec 13, 2005·The Anatomical Record. Part A, Discoveries in Molecular, Cellular, and Evolutionary Biology·Christopher D MarshallChristian Lydersen
Oct 24, 2006·Journal of Insect Physiology·Ingrid M Curril, Craig W LaMunyon
Sep 30, 2008·International Urogynecology Journal and Pelvic Floor Dysfunction·Jorge Rodríguez-AntolínMargarita Martínez-Gómez
Mar 25, 2009·Genetica·William G Eberhard
Nov 11, 2009·Journal of Wildlife Diseases·Cornelis E van ElkThijs Kuiken
Aug 11, 2011·The American Naturalist·Rebecca DeanTommaso Pizzari
May 8, 2014·PLoS Biology·Malin Ah-KingMarie E Herberstein

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Dec 17, 2016·The Anatomical Record : Advances in Integrative Anatomy and Evolutionary Biology·Helena Katz, Olle Johansson
Oct 13, 2017·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·Dara N OrbachPatricia L R Brennan
Apr 1, 2017·PloS One·Dara N OrbachBernd Würsig
Feb 26, 2020·Scientific Reports·Dara N OrbachSarah L Mesnick
Nov 15, 2017·Evolution; International Journal of Organic Evolution·Dara N OrbachPatricia L R Brennan
Apr 13, 2021·Ecology and Evolution·Dara N OrbachPatricia L R Brennan

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.