Lectin-Binding Patterns in the Testes of the Java Fruit Bat (Pteropus vampyrus) and the Japanese Lesser Horseshoe Bat (Rhinolophus cornutus)

Abstract

Lectin binding patterns in the testes of the Java fruit bat, Pteropus vampyrus, and the Japanese lesser horseshoe bat, Rhinolophus cornutus, were investigated by light microscopy. Binding patterns were similar in both species, except for some slight differences. UEA-I, SBA, DBA and BSL-I revealed no reaction in the testes of either species. Con A and WGA gave a diffuse reaction all over the seminiferous epithelium in both species. In addition to this binding pattern, PHA-E exhibited a granular reaction within the cytoplasm of pachytene spermatocytes. PNA and RCA-I gave an intense reaction in the acrosomal region from Golgi to acrosome-phase spermatids in both species, but, in addition to this binding pattern, RCA-I reacted in the cytoplasm of spermatocytes and spermatids in the Java fruit bats. PSA revealed a granular reaction in the cytoplasm of spermatids in the Japanese lesser horseshoe bats. These binding patterns were similar to those of mammals studied before, except that a few specific bindings were detected in the bats. Key words: Lectin, Japanese lesser horseshoe bat, Java fruit bat, Spermatid, Testis.