scholarly journals Multiple sperm storage organs facilitate female control of paternity

2005 ◽  
Vol 272 (1568) ◽  
pp. 1139-1144 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lindsay S.E Snow ◽  
Maydianne C.B Andrade
Keyword(s):  
Sperm Storage ◽  
Conclusive Evidence ◽  
Sperm Precedence ◽  
Storage Organ ◽  
Use Patterns ◽  
Storage Organs ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Female Control ◽  
Latrodectus Hasselti ◽  
Normally Distributed

It has been proposed that multiple sperm storage organs (spermathecae) could allow polyandrous females to control paternity. There is little conclusive evidence for this since insemination of individual spermathecae is generally not experimentally manipulable. Here, we examined sperm use patterns in the Australian redback spider ( Latrodectus hasselti ), which has paired, independent spermathecae. We assessed paternity when two rivals were forced to inseminate a single storage organ or opposite storage organs. When males inseminated a single spermatheca, mean paternity of the female's first mate was 79.8% (median 89.4%), and 38% of first mates achieved 100% paternity. In contrast, when males inseminated opposite organs, the mean paternity of the first mate was 49.3% (median 49.9%), only 10% of males achieved complete precedence, and paternity was normally distributed, suggesting sperm mixing. Males responded to this difference by avoiding previously inseminated female reproductive tracts. Complete sperm precedence can only be achieved if females permit males to copulate with both reproductive tracts. Females often cannibalize smaller males during their first copulation, thus limiting their paternity to 50%. These data show that multiple sperm storage organs can increase female control of paternity.

Differential survival of allosperm by location within the female storage organ of the snail Cornu aspersum

2008 ◽  
Vol 86 (11) ◽  
pp. 1244-1251 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ronald Chase ◽  
Emily Darbyson
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Selection ◽  
Sperm Competition ◽  
Female Choice ◽  
Complex Structure ◽  
Sperm Storage ◽  
Storage Organ ◽  
Differential Survival ◽  
Cornu Aspersum ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Epithelial Wall

The sperm storage organ of terrestrial gastropod molluscs is implicated in sexual selection because it has a complex structure and it functions in a context of intense sperm competition. Received sperm are stored in spermathecal tubules. In our sample using the brown garden snail ( Cornu aspersum (Müller, 1774)) (n = 58), the mean number of tubules per animal was 16, with lengths ranging from ≤40 to 2480 μm. A hereditary influence on tubule number was indicated by clutch-dependent variations. From histological sections, we counted the spermatozoa that were present in the tubules of ex-virgin snails 1, 2, 4, and 8 weeks after mating (n = 40). Sperm were distributed, on average, across 75% of the tubules in individual snails, thus contradicting one proposed mechanism for cryptic female choice. The total number of sperm declined 66% over 8 weeks, with the largest losses incurred by sperm in the lumens of the tubules and sperm gathered in clusters. By contrast, in the same period, the numbers of sperm that were in contact with the walls of the tubules remained relatively stable. These data imply that sperm survive best when attached to the epithelial wall, either because they derive nutrition from the epithelium or because they use the epithelium as an anchor.

scholarly journals Costs and benefits of giant sperm and sperm storage organs in Drosophila melanogaster

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susanne Zajitschek ◽  
Felix Zajitschek ◽  
Sarah Josway ◽  
Reem Al Shabeeb ◽  
Halli Weiner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Seminal Receptacle ◽  
Fertilization Success ◽  
Inbred Lines ◽  
Sperm Storage ◽  
Sperm Length ◽  
Costs And Benefits ◽  
Female Fitness ◽  
Storage Organ ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
Storage Organs

ABSTRACTIn the Drosophila lineage, both sperm and the primary female sperm storage organ, the seminal receptacle (SR), may reach extraordinary lengths. In D. melanogaster, long SRs bias fertilization toward long sperm during the displacement stage of sperm competition. This sperm-SR interaction, together with a genetic correlation between the traits, suggests that the coevolution of exaggerated sperm and SR lengths may be driven by Fisherian runaway selection. To further understand the costs and benefits of long sperm and SR genotypes in both sexes, we measured male and female fitness in inbred lines of D. melanogaster derived from four populations previously selected for long sperm, short sperm, long SRs, or short SRs. We specifically asked: do long SRs impose costs or benefits on the females that bear them? Do genotypes that generate long sperm in males impose a fitness cost on females sharing those genotypes? Is long sperm an honest indicator of male viability and associated with increased fitness? And finally, are the benefits of long sperm restricted to competitive fertilization success, or do long-sperm males also have increased mating success and fecundity in single matings? We found that both sexes have increased longevity in long sperm and long SR genotypes, with fewer reproduction-related benefits and evidence for trade-offs in males, compared to females. Our results suggest that sperm length and SR length are both indicators of increased viability.

scholarly journals Novel male trait prolongs survival in suicidal mating

2005 ◽  
Vol 1 (3) ◽  
pp. 276-279 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maydianne C.B Andrade ◽  
Lei Gu ◽  
Jeffrey A Stoltz
Keyword(s):  
Protective Effect ◽  
Mating Success ◽  
Sperm Storage ◽  
Male Trait ◽  
Storage Organs ◽  
Abdominal Constriction ◽  
Latrodectus Hasselti

Male redback spiders ( Latrodectus hasselti ) maximize paternity if they copulate twice with their cannibalistic mate. Facilitating cannibalistic attack during their first copulation yields paternity benefits. However, females have paired sperm-storage organs inseminated during two separate copulations, so males that succumb to partial cannibalism during the first copulation lose at least 50% of their paternity to rivals. In this paper, we describe a novel male trait—an abdominal constriction that appears during courtship—that allows males to survive and mate with females for a second time, despite the substantial cannibalistic damage inflicted during the first copulation. Constricted males that were wounded to simulate early cannibalism had higher endurance, greater survivorship, longer subsequent courtship and higher mating success than wounded males that were not constricted. Constriction was not found in a non-sacrificial congener that rarely survived simulated cannibalism, and the protective effect of constriction in redbacks was specific to the type of damage inflicted by females during the first copulation. Thus, the abdominal constriction allows males to overcome the potential fitness limit imposed by their own suicidal strategy—paradoxically, by prolonging survival across two cannibalistic copulations.

Anatomical Studies on the sperm storage organ of Pati and Chara-Chemballi Ducks

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Deka ◽  
K. Sarma ◽  
S. Sarma ◽  
J. Goswami ◽  
J. D. Mahanta ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Epithelial Cells ◽  
Positive Reaction ◽  
Anatomical Study ◽  
Goblet Cells ◽  
Sperm Storage ◽  
Storage Organ ◽  
Anatomical Studies ◽  
Length Width ◽  
The Mean

The present investigation was conducted on the comparative anatomical study of vagina (sperm storage organ) of Pati and Chara-Chemballi ducks during laying periods. The vagina was collected immediately after death and anatomical studies were made on it. The vagina was a narrow muscular tube, sharply curved and was tightly bound by ligament. The length, width thickness and weight of vagina of Chara-Chemballi ducks were significantly (p>0.01) higher than Pati duck. The lining epithelium consisted of pseudostratified columnar epithelial cells with few goblet cells. The mean height of lamina epithelialis mucosae of vagina of the present study was significantly (p>0.01) higher in Chara-Chemballi duck (26.508±0.298 µm) than Pati duck (23.058±0.330 µm). A weak PAS positive reaction was noticed in the lining epithelium of vagina of Pati and Chara-Chembali ducks.

The Estimation of Blood Platelet Survival

1972 ◽  
Vol 28 (03) ◽  
pp. 447-456 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. A Murphy ◽  
M. E Francis ◽  
J. F Mustard
Keyword(s):  
Standard Deviation ◽  
Least Squares ◽  
Experimental Error ◽  
Blood Platelet ◽  
Least Squares Estimation ◽  
Systematic Relationship ◽  
Platelet Survival ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Normally Distributed

SummaryThe characteristics of experimental error in measurement of platelet radioactivity have been explored by blind replicate determinations on specimens taken on several days on each of three Walker hounds.Analysis suggests that it is not unreasonable to suppose that error for each sample is normally distributed ; and while there is evidence that the variance is heterogeneous, no systematic relationship has been discovered between the mean and the standard deviation of the determinations on individual samples. Thus, since it would be impracticable for investigators to do replicate determinations as a routine, no improvement over simple unweighted least squares estimation on untransformed data suggests itself.

The Effects of the sphragis on male and female genitalia in Acraea (Nymphalidae) butterflies

2020 ◽  
Vol 22 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shannon L Summers ◽  
Akito Y Kawahara ◽  
Ana P. S. Carvalho
Keyword(s):  
Interspecific Variation ◽  
Sperm Storage ◽  
Male Mating ◽  
Museum Collections ◽  
Storage Organ ◽  
Mating Plug ◽  
Males And Females ◽  
Comparison And Analysis ◽  
Imagej Software ◽  
Sexually Antagonistic Coevolution

Male mating plugs have been used in many species to prevent female re-mating and sperm competition. One of the most extreme examples of a mating plug is the sphragis, which is a large, complex and externalized plug found only in butterflies. This structure is found in many species in the genus Acraea (Nymphalidae) and provides an opportunity for investigation of the effects of the sphragis on the morphology of the genitalia, which is poorly understood. This study aims to understand morphological interspecific variation in the genitalia of Acraea butterflies. Using specimens from museum collections, abdomen dissections were conducted on 19 species of Acraea: 9 sphragis bearing and 10 non-sphragis bearing species. Genitalia imaging was performed for easier comparison and analysis and measurements of genitalia structures was done using ImageJ software. Some distinguishing morphological features in the females were found. The most obvious difference is the larger and more externalized copulatory opening in sphragis bearing species, with varying degrees of external projections. Females of the sphragis bearing species also tend to have a shorter ductus (the structure that connects the copulatory opening with the sperm storage organ) than those without the sphragis. These differences may be due to a sexually antagonistic coevolution between the males and females, where the females evolve larger and more difficult to plug copulatory openings and the males attempt to prevent re-mating with the sphragis.

Localization of calcium and zinc in the sperm storage tubules of chicken, quail and turkey using X-ray microanalysis

Reproduction ◽  
2000 ◽  
pp. 331-336 ◽  
Author(s):  
L Holm ◽  
H Ekwall ◽  
GJ Wishart ◽  
Y Ridderstrale
Keyword(s):  
Calcium Concentration ◽  
Sperm Storage ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Elemental Concentrations ◽  
Low Concentrations ◽  
Intracellular Content ◽  
Wet Weight ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Sperm Storage Tubules ◽  
Scanning Electron

Sperm storage tubules from the utero-vaginal junction of chickens, quails and turkeys were analysed for calcium and zinc using X-ray microanalysis of ultra-rapidly frozen tissue in a scanning electron microscope. This technique enabled the tubular fluid surrounding the stored spermatozoa and the intracellular content of the cells of the sperm storage tubules to be analysed separately and, by using standards with known concentrations, their elemental concentrations were estimated. The mean (+/- SEM) concentration of calcium in the tubular fluid from chickens, quails and turkeys was 17 +/- 3, 19 +/- 3 and 17 +/- 4 mmol kg(-1) wet weight, respectively. The intracellular calcium concentration of the cells of the tubules did not differ significantly from these values and was also similar in the mucosal epithelial cells of the utero-vaginal junction. Zinc was localized in the cells of turkey sperm storage tubules and tubular fluid, but at low concentrations. No zinc could be detected in corresponding structures from chickens and quails. The concentration of calcium in the tubular fluid is within the range known to inhibit the motility of spermatozoa, supporting this function for calcium during storage. Zinc is known to depress turkey sperm metabolism and it may also be involved in inducing quiescence of spermatozoa during storage in this species.

Spatial Variability of Physical Parameters and Processes in Two Field Soils

1991 ◽  
Vol 22 (5) ◽  
pp. 327-340 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Høgh Jensen ◽  
J. C. Refsgaard
Keyword(s):  
Transport Model ◽  
Flow Direction ◽  
Measurement Data ◽  
Flow Simulation ◽  
Solute Concentration ◽  
Conclusive Evidence ◽  
Physical Parameters ◽  
Effective Parameters ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Tracer Experiments

A numerical analysis of solute transport in two spatially heterogeneous fields is carried out assuming that the fields are composed of ensembles of one-dimensional non-interacting soil columns, each column representing a possible soil profile in statistical terms. The basis for the analysis is the flow simulation described in Part II (Jensen and Refsgaard, this issue), which serves as input to a transport model based on the convection-dispersion equation. The simulations of the average and variation in solute concentration in planes perpendicular to the flow direction are compared to measurements obtained from tracer experiments carried out at the two fields. Due to the limited amount of measurement data, it is difficult to draw conclusive evidence of the simulations, but reliable simulations are obtained of the mean behaviour within the two fields. The concept of equivalent soil properties is also tested for the transport problem in heterogeneous soils. Based on effective parameters for the retention and hydraulic conductivity functions it is possible to predict the mean transport in the two experimental fields.

scholarly journals Expression of Mst89B and CG31287 is Needed for Effective Sperm Storage and Egg Fertilization in Drosophila

Cells ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 289
Author(s):  
Gurman Grewal ◽  
Bahar Patlar ◽  
Alberto Civetta
Keyword(s):  
Germ Line ◽  
Sperm Storage ◽  
Mature Sperm ◽  
Sperm Production ◽  
Cytogenetic Map ◽  
Egg Hatchability ◽  
Storage Organs ◽  
Competitive Success ◽  
Paternity Success ◽  
And Storage

In Drosophila, male reproductive fitness can be affected by any number of processes, ranging from development of gametes, transfer to and storage of mature sperm within the female sperm storage organs, and utilization of sperm for fertilization. We have previously identified the 89B cytogenetic map position of D. melanogaster as a hub for genes that effect male paternity success when disturbed. Here, we used RNA interference to test 11 genes that are highly expressed in the testes and located within the 89B region for their role in sperm competition and male fecundity when their expression is perturbed. Testes-specific knockdown (KD) of bor and CSN5 resulted in complete sterility, whereas KD of CG31287, Manf and Mst89B, showed a breakdown in sperm competitive success when second to mate (P2 < 0.5) and reduced fecundity in single matings. The low fecundity of Manf KD is explained by a significant reduction in the amount of mature sperm produced. KD of Mst89B and CG31287 does not affect sperm production, sperm transfer into the female bursa or storage within 30 min after mating. Instead, a significant reduction of sperm in female storage is observed 24 h after mating. Egg hatchability 24 h after mating is also drastically reduced for females mated to Mst89B or CG31287 KD males, and this reduction parallels the decrease in fecundity. We show that normal germ-line expression of Mst89B and CG31287 is needed for effective sperm usage and egg fertilization.

scholarly journals Functional morphology of immature mating in a widow spider

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lenka Sentenská ◽  
Aileen Neumann ◽  
Yael Lubin ◽  
Gabriele Uhl
Keyword(s):  
Sperm Competition ◽  
Storage Conditions ◽  
Sperm Storage ◽  
Sperm Transfer ◽  
Costs And Benefits ◽  
Micro Computed Tomography ◽  
Mating Tactics ◽  
Adult Females ◽  
Storage Organs ◽  
Widow Spider

Abstract Background Mating generally occurs after individuals reach adulthood. In many arthropods including spiders, the adult stage is marked by a final moult after which the genitalia are fully developed and functional. In several widow spider species (genus Latrodectus), however, immature females may mate a few days before they moult to adulthood, i.e. in their late-subadult stage. While the “adult” mating typically results in cannibalism, males survive the “immature” mating. During both “immature” and “adult” matings, males leave parts of their paired copulatory organs within female genitalia, which may act as mating plugs. To study potential costs and benefits of the two mating tactics, we investigated female genital morphology of the brown widow spider, L. geometricus. Light microscopy, histology and micro-computed tomography of early-subadult, late-subadult and adult females were conducted to determine the overall pattern of genital maturation. We compared genitalia of mated late-subadult and adult females to reveal potential differences in the genitalic details that might indicate differential success in sperm transfer and different environments for sperm storage and sperm competition. Results We found that the paired sperm storage organs (spermathecae) and copulatory ducts are developed already in late-subadult females and host sperm after immature mating. However, the thickness of the spermathecal cuticle and the staining of the secretions inside differ significantly between the late-subadult and adult females. In late-subadult females mating plugs were found with higher probability in both spermathecae compared to adult females. Conclusions Sperm transfer in matings with late-subadult females follows the same route as in matings with adult females. The observed differences in the secretions inside the spermathecae of adult and late-subadult females likely reflect different storage conditions for the transferred sperm which may lead to a disadvantage under sperm competition if the subadult female later re-mates with another male. However, since males mating with late-subadult females typically transfer sperm to both spermathecae they might benefit from numerical sperm competition as well as from monopolizing access to the female sperm storage organs. The assessment of re-mating probability and relative paternity will clarify the costs and benefits of the two mating tactics in light of these findings.

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