Testing hypotheses of bat baculum function with 3D models derived from microCT
Abstract The baculum (os penis) has been extensively studied as a taxon‐specific character in bats and other mammals but its mechanical function is still unclear. There is a wide consensus in the literature that the baculum is probably a sexually selected character. Using a novel approach combining...
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crwiley:10.1111/joa.12274 2024-06-23T07:55:45+00:00 Testing hypotheses of bat baculum function with 3D models derived from microCT Herdina, Anna Nele Kelly, Diane A. Jahelková, Helena Lina, Peter H. C. Horáček, Ivan Metscher, Brian D. Bundesministerium für Wissenschaft, Forschung und Wirtschaft Faculty of Life Sciences, Universität Wien 2015 http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/joa.12274 https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1111%2Fjoa.12274 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/joa.12274 en eng Wiley http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor Journal of Anatomy volume 226, issue 3, page 229-235 ISSN 0021-8782 1469-7580 journal-article 2015 crwiley https://doi.org/10.1111/joa.12274 2024-06-06T04:20:51Z Abstract The baculum (os penis) has been extensively studied as a taxon‐specific character in bats and other mammals but its mechanical function is still unclear. There is a wide consensus in the literature that the baculum is probably a sexually selected character. Using a novel approach combining postmortem manipulation and three‐dimensional (3D) imaging, we tested two functional hypotheses in the common noctule bat Nyctalus noctula , the common pipistrelle Pipistrellus pipistrellus, and Nathusius’ pipistrelle Pipistrellus nathusii : (i) whether the baculum can protect the distal urethra and urethral opening from compression during erection and copulation; and (ii) whether the baculum and corpora cavernosa form a functional unit to support both the penile shaft and the more distal glans tip. In freshly dead or frozen and thawed bats, we compared flaccid penises with artificially ‘erect’ penises that were inflated with 10% formalin. Penises were stained with alcoholic iodine and imaged with a lab‐based high‐resolution x‐ray microtomography system. Analysis of the 3D images enabled us to compare the changes in relative positions of the baculum, corpora cavernosa, urethra, and corpus spongiosum with one another between flaccid and ‘erect’ penises. Our results support both functional hypotheses, indicating that the baculum probably performs two different roles during erection. Our approach should prove valuable for comparing and testing the functions of different baculum morphologies in bats and other mammals. Moreover, we have validated an essential component of the groundwork necessary to extend this approach with finite element analysis for quantitative 3D biomechanical modeling of penis function. Article in Journal/Newspaper Nyctalus noctula Pipistrellus nathusii Pipistrellus pipistrellus Wiley Online Library Journal of Anatomy 226 3 229 235 |
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Wiley Online Library |
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English |
description |
Abstract The baculum (os penis) has been extensively studied as a taxon‐specific character in bats and other mammals but its mechanical function is still unclear. There is a wide consensus in the literature that the baculum is probably a sexually selected character. Using a novel approach combining postmortem manipulation and three‐dimensional (3D) imaging, we tested two functional hypotheses in the common noctule bat Nyctalus noctula , the common pipistrelle Pipistrellus pipistrellus, and Nathusius’ pipistrelle Pipistrellus nathusii : (i) whether the baculum can protect the distal urethra and urethral opening from compression during erection and copulation; and (ii) whether the baculum and corpora cavernosa form a functional unit to support both the penile shaft and the more distal glans tip. In freshly dead or frozen and thawed bats, we compared flaccid penises with artificially ‘erect’ penises that were inflated with 10% formalin. Penises were stained with alcoholic iodine and imaged with a lab‐based high‐resolution x‐ray microtomography system. Analysis of the 3D images enabled us to compare the changes in relative positions of the baculum, corpora cavernosa, urethra, and corpus spongiosum with one another between flaccid and ‘erect’ penises. Our results support both functional hypotheses, indicating that the baculum probably performs two different roles during erection. Our approach should prove valuable for comparing and testing the functions of different baculum morphologies in bats and other mammals. Moreover, we have validated an essential component of the groundwork necessary to extend this approach with finite element analysis for quantitative 3D biomechanical modeling of penis function. |
author2 |
Bundesministerium für Wissenschaft, Forschung und Wirtschaft Faculty of Life Sciences, Universität Wien |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Herdina, Anna Nele Kelly, Diane A. Jahelková, Helena Lina, Peter H. C. Horáček, Ivan Metscher, Brian D. |
spellingShingle |
Herdina, Anna Nele Kelly, Diane A. Jahelková, Helena Lina, Peter H. C. Horáček, Ivan Metscher, Brian D. Testing hypotheses of bat baculum function with 3D models derived from microCT |
author_facet |
Herdina, Anna Nele Kelly, Diane A. Jahelková, Helena Lina, Peter H. C. Horáček, Ivan Metscher, Brian D. |
author_sort |
Herdina, Anna Nele |
title |
Testing hypotheses of bat baculum function with 3D models derived from microCT |
title_short |
Testing hypotheses of bat baculum function with 3D models derived from microCT |
title_full |
Testing hypotheses of bat baculum function with 3D models derived from microCT |
title_fullStr |
Testing hypotheses of bat baculum function with 3D models derived from microCT |
title_full_unstemmed |
Testing hypotheses of bat baculum function with 3D models derived from microCT |
title_sort |
testing hypotheses of bat baculum function with 3d models derived from microct |
publisher |
Wiley |
publishDate |
2015 |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/joa.12274 https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1111%2Fjoa.12274 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/joa.12274 |
genre |
Nyctalus noctula Pipistrellus nathusii Pipistrellus pipistrellus |
genre_facet |
Nyctalus noctula Pipistrellus nathusii Pipistrellus pipistrellus |
op_source |
Journal of Anatomy volume 226, issue 3, page 229-235 ISSN 0021-8782 1469-7580 |
op_rights |
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1111/joa.12274 |
container_title |
Journal of Anatomy |
container_volume |
226 |
container_issue |
3 |
container_start_page |
229 |
op_container_end_page |
235 |
_version_ |
1802648443376631808 |