The Functional Morphology of the Reproductive System and Prospective Artificial Insemination of the American Alligator (Alligator mississippiensis)
Robert DeSena; R. Larsen; P. Cardeilhac
Department of Reproduction, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
In the female, the ovaries are adjacent to the median line on the dorsal wall of the anterior portion of the abdominal cavity. They rest on the anteromedial surface of each kidney, and are separated by the colic mesentery. The coelemic opening of each oviduct, the ostium, is slightly anterior to the ovary itself. Each oviduct is highly convoluted in the area of the ostium and runs lateral to the ovary, suspended along its length by the mesatubarial fold of the mesentery. Along the remainder of its path each oviduct is straight and at its distal end enters the cloacal chamber.
The relative orientation of the testes and vas deferens is similar to the ovaries and oviducts, respectively, except that the vas exits from the posterior, rather than the anterior end of the gonad. Sperm travel down the vas deferens and enter the penile groove. The penis is attached to the ventral posterior surface of the cloaca and extruded through the vent during copulation.
The effects of exogenous progesterone, LHRH, HCG and PMSG have been examined in studies on the induction of ovulation in adult females. Artificial insemination has been performed using aliquots of 2 x 107 spermatozoa placed directly into each oviduct.