Patterns of cetacean vaginal folds yield insights into functionality

PLoS One. 2017 Mar 31;12(3):e0175037. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0175037. eCollection 2017.

Abstract

Complex foldings of the vaginal wall are unique to some cetaceans and artiodactyls and are of unknown function(s). The patterns of vaginal length and cumulative vaginal fold length were assessed in relation to body length and to each other in a phylogenetic context to derive insights into functionality. The reproductive tracts of 59 female cetaceans (20 species, 6 families) were dissected. Phylogenetically-controlled reduced major axis regressions were used to establish a scaling trend for the female genitalia of cetaceans. An unparalleled level of vaginal diversity within a mammalian order was found. Vaginal folds varied in number and size across species, and vaginal fold length was positively allometric with body length. Vaginal length was not a significant predictor of vaginal fold length. Functional hypotheses regarding the role of vaginal folds and the potential selection pressures that could lead to evolution of these structures are discussed. Vaginal folds may present physical barriers, which obscure the pathway of seawater and/or sperm travelling through the vagina. This study contributes broad insights to the evolution of reproductive morphology and aquatic adaptations and lays the foundation for future functional morphology analyses.

MeSH terms

  • Adaptation, Physiological
  • Animals
  • Cetacea / anatomy & histology*
  • Female
  • Genitalia, Female / anatomy & histology
  • Phylogeny
  • Vagina / anatomy & histology*

Grants and funding

This research was supported by grants to D.N.O. from Texas A&M University at Galveston (Department of Marine Biology; Texas Institute of Oceanography), American Museum of Natural History (Lerner Gray Memorial Fund), Natural Science and Engineering Research Council of Canada (PGSD2-420080-2012), and Texas Sea Grant (Grands-In-Aid of Graduate Research). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.