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Changes in oviductal morphology of the skink, Lampropholis guichenoti , associated with egg production
Author(s) -
Adams S.M.,
Hosie M.J.,
Murphy C.R.,
Thompson M.B.
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
journal of morphology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.652
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1097-4687
pISSN - 0362-2525
DOI - 10.1002/jmor.10262
Subject(s) - biology , skink , oviduct , morphology (biology) , zoology , ecology , lizard , endocrinology
We describe changes in the morphology of the oviductal epithelium of an oviparous skink, Lampropholis guichenoti , during the course of egg production and oviposition : to characterize the luminal epithelial changes; to provide a baseline for understanding uterine changes in viviparous species; and to establish whether the plasma membrane transformation of uterine epithelial cells is indeed a feature restricted to viviparous species. Oviducts from vitellogenic, gravid, and postgravid females were observed using scanning electron microscopy. Cellular characteristics of the oviductal epithelium previously used to determine the plasma membrane transformation were assessed morphologically. Three anatomically different areas were defined within the oviduct, but no plasma membrane transformation was observed in the oviparous skink, suggesting that this is a phenomenon particular to viviparity. J. Morphol. 262:536–544, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.