The interactions between spermatozoa and uterine epithelium in the hibernating bat, pipistrellus kuhli natt

In hibernating females of Pipistrellus kuhli, as well as in other bats previously described, the spermatozoa inseminated in autumn are stored in the uterus, both free and attached by their heads to the uterine epithelium, throughout winter. With the electron microscope the apical region of the attached sperm heads appears to be contained in plicae of the endometrial cells. Furthermore, a great number of microvilli protruding from the uterine epithelium participate in the interaction with spermatozoa. In the region of contact between the two cell types, their plasma membranes run parallel with a constant 12‐nm gap. The sensitivity of these interactions to EDTA and hyaluronidase suggests an involvement of Ca++ and proteoglycans in these bindings, while their insensitivity to trypsin tends to exclude a role of proteins. In addition, evidence of exocytosis of dense granules just at the bottom of the plicae containing the spermatozoon suggests a transfer of material from the uterine epithelium to the intercellular space, thus supporting a physiological role of these interactions.