(40) Morphology Changes in Alligator Phallic Glans via Artificial Inflation
Abstract
The distal glans of the Alligator mississippiensis phallus is an inflatable structure that engorges with blood during copulation to form a cup-like shape, putatively to facilitate effective gamete transfer and... [ view full abstract ]
The distal glans of the Alligator mississippiensis phallus is an inflatable structure that engorges with blood during copulation to form a cup-like shape, putatively to facilitate effective gamete transfer and increase probability of fertilization. Previous research has demonstrated the presence of extensive cavernous spongiform vascular spaces in the glans tissues that engorge via increased blood flow through paired vessels running the length of the ventral phallus. Here we utilized an artificial inflation technique to quantitatively measure the shape change during this transition to the copulatory state. We inflated dissected phallic tissues using liquid petroleum jelly fluid pressure created through a 22-gauge needle inserted into the spongiform glans.We quantified the resulting expansion in three ways. First, linear caliper measurements between tissue landmarks were taken comparing each phalli in both the flaccid and inflated states. Second, we utilized photogrammetry to produce 3D wireframes of glans tissues before and after inflation using a digital camera and the Remake application by Autodesk. This allowed for volumetric measurements of tissue expansion. Third, we used ex vivo silicone casting of the inflated tissues to better gain volumetric measurements of the cup-like phallic lumen, an aspect not easily captured by photogrammetry. Together, these results provide a better understanding of how the alligator phallus achieves a copulatory state lays the foundation for later study of how this morphology interfaces with female cloacal tissues and facilities insemination.
Authors
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Rachel Francis
(Sewanee - The University of the South)
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Brandon Moore
(Sewanee: The University of the South, Department of Biology)
Topic Area
Biology
Session
PS » Poster Session (14:30 - Friday, 28th April, Spencer Hall (Harris Commons))
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