SPERMATOGENESIS IN Lithobates palmipes (Spix, 1824) IN A FRAGMENT OF NORTHEASTERN ATLANTIC FOREST.

Abstract

The conducted study investigated the histological aspects of the testes of Lithobates palmipes (Spix, 1824), a frog native to the Northeast of Brazil, with the aim of understanding its reproductive cycle and the species' responses to environmental variations. Amphibians, in general, have reproductive cycles that can be influenced by climatic factors such as temperature, humidity, and precipitation. The species analyzed, Lithobates palmipes (Spix, 1824), presents a continuous gametogenic cycle, allowing sperm production throughout the year, regardless of the rainy or dry seasons. The research was conducted using testicular samples from individuals collected between September 2011 and June 2012, in a fragment of the Atlantic Forest, in Mata do Buraquinho, Paraíba. Histological analyses revealed that the testes of Lithobates palmipes (Spix, 1824) exhibit cystic spermatogenesis, with germ cells organized in lobules, associated with Sertoli cells. During the study period, different stages of spermatogenesis were identified, with a predominance of spermatogonia in some months and the presence of spermatocytes and spermatids in others. These findings indicate that the species maintains continuous reproduction, regardless of seasonal rainfall variations, which can be explained by the presence of permanent bodies of water in the studied area. The study highlights the importance of histological analysis to understand the reproductive biology of tropical anurans and its relevance for conservation strategies of species inhabiting environments impacted by urbanization. Furthermore, these results may contribute to environmental management and the protection of species that depend on fragile ecosystems.