Reproductive behaviour and physiology of Tenebrio molitor (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae). III. Histogenetic changes in the internal genitalia, mesenteron, and cuticle during sexual maturation

1976 ◽  
Vol 54 (6) ◽  
pp. 990-1002 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. H. Gerber
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Maturation ◽  
Adult Life ◽  
Tenebrio Molitor ◽  
Reproductive Behaviour ◽  
Accessory Gland ◽  
Peritrophic Membrane ◽  
Secretory Cells ◽  
Accessory Glands ◽  
Internal Genitalia ◽  
Day By Day

The histogenic changes in the internal genitalia and mesenteron and the hardening and darkening of the cuticle during the first days of adult life in Tenebrio molitor L. are described. At emergence, the testes contain mature spermatozoa and the ovaries possess small oocytes. During the first 3 days, the shape, size, appearance, and staining characteristics of the secretory cells of the lateral oviducts, female accessory gland, tube accessory glands, bean-shaped accessory glands, and glandular region of the vasa deferentia change. Similar changes were not seen in the seminal vesicles and spermatheca. All of the secondary sex glands are filled with secretion by day 4. In the midgut, changes occur in the size, shape, and appearance of the epithelial cells by the 3rd day, and a peritrophic membrane is secreted during days 2 and 3. Most adults do not begin to feed until after the 3rd day. By day 3, the hardening and darkening of the cuticle are completed. All of these changes clearly are associated with adult maturation, especially sexual maturation, and most or all of the them must take place before the adults are able to copulate and oviposit.

Male sexual maturation of the tsetse fliesglossina morsitanswestwood andg. austeniNewstead (Dipt., Glossinidae) in relation to blood feeding

1976 ◽  
Vol 66 (3) ◽  
pp. 389-399 ◽  
Author(s):  
Woodbridge A. Foster
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Maturation ◽  
Adult Life ◽  
Blood Feeding ◽  
Accessory Gland ◽  
Copulation Duration ◽  
Tsetse Flies ◽  
Sexual Performance ◽  
Glossina Morsitans ◽  
Accessory Glands ◽  
Gland Development

AbstractThe effect of blood feeding on male sexual maturation in the tsetse fliesGlossina morsitansWestwood andG. austeniNewstead was studied by comparing copulation and insemination performance of unfed and fed males during the first five days of adult life. These species differed conspicuously, both in the course of maturation and in the influence of blood feeding on it.G. morsitansmales copulated before they could inseminate, and even fed flies did not all inseminate until day 3; unfed flies showed retarded insemination performance by day 2, before copulation performance declined.G. austenimales were less sexually responsive at first, but they nearly always inseminated when they did copulate, even on day 1. Unfed flies showed less increase in copulation performance by day 4, but no decline. Accessory glands were larger inG. austenithanG. morsitansat emergence, and in unfed flies of both species they ceased to grow after day 3. Both accessory gland size and copulation duration (beyond a minimum duration) were related to insemination success in a general way, though copulation duration was quite variable. Vertebrate blood apparently provides male tsetse with specific nutrients or stimuli which promote sexual performance, in addition to basic energy and water requirements. Feeding probably affects insemination inG. morsitansthrough accessory gland development, allowing more complete spermatophore formation and sperm transfer, but its mode of action onG. austenisexual responsiveness is not evident.

scholarly journals Rab-mediated trafficking in the secondary cells of Drosophila male accessory glands and its role in fecundity

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Prince ◽  
M. Brankatschk ◽  
B. Kroeger ◽  
D. Gligorov ◽  
C. Wilson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mating Behavior ◽  
Seminal Fluid ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Accessory Gland ◽  
Molecular Organization ◽  
Secretory Cells ◽  
Rab Proteins ◽  
Intracellular Membrane ◽  
Accessory Glands ◽  
Intracellular Membrane Transport

AbstractIt is known that the male seminal fluid contains factors that affect female post-mating behavior and physiology. In Drosophila, most of these factors are secreted by the two epithelial cell types that make up the male accessory gland: the main and secondary cells. Although secondary cells represent only 4% of the cells of the accessory gland, their contribution to the male seminal fluid is essential for sustaining the female post-mating response. To better understand the function of the secondary cells, here we investigate their molecular organization, particularly with respect to the intracellular membrane transport machinery. We determined that large vacuole-like structures found in the secondary cells are trafficking hubs labeled by Rab6, 7, 11 and 19. Furthermore, these cell-specific organelles are essential for the long-term post-mating behavior of females and that their formation is directly dependent upon Rab6. Our discovery adds to our understanding of Rab proteins function in secretory cells. We have created an online, open-access imaging resource as a valuable tool for the intracellular membrane and protein traffic community.

The anatomy, histology, and physiology of the reproductive systems of Lytta nuttalli Say (Coleoptera: Meloidae). I. The internal genitalia

1971 ◽  
Vol 49 (4) ◽  
pp. 523-533 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. H. Gerber ◽  
N. S. Church ◽  
J. G. Rempel
Keyword(s):  
Vas Deferens ◽  
Ejaculatory Duct ◽  
Reproductive Organs ◽  
Accessory Gland ◽  
Bursa Copulatrix ◽  
Reproductive Systems ◽  
Accessory Glands ◽  
Internal Genitalia ◽  
Spermathecal Gland ◽  
Colleterial Gland

The anatomy and histology of the male and female internal genitalia of Lytta nuttalli Say and the functions of the various organs during copulation and oviposition are described. In addition to the ovaries, lateral and common oviducts, and vagina, the female system includes a spermatophoral receptacle, accessory gland, and spermatheca. The most distinctive feature is the voluminous spermatophoral receptacle, which seems to be homologous with the bursa copulatrix of other Coleoptera, but serves to store and digest old spermatophores. The accessory gland is not a colleterial gland, but instead produces materials that probably are involved in the transfer of the spermatozoa into the spermatheca. The epithelia of the calyces and oviducts secrete the frothy, mucilaginous material that coats the eggs at oviposition. In the absence of a separate spermathecal gland, the epithelium of the spermatheca apparently has taken over its functions. The ovaries contain several hundred ovarioles of the telotrophic type. The chief structures of the male system are three pairs of accessory glands plus the testes, vasa deferentia, and ejaculatory duct. Each vas deferens consists of an enlarged portion that serves as an additional accessory gland and a narrow part, which is the seminal vesicle. Materials produced in the three pairs of accessory glands and the glandular portions of the vasa deferentia are used in spermatophore formation. The testes contain several hundred short sperm tubes similar to those of other insects. The arrangement, form, and functions of the internal reproductive organs of L. nuttalli are compared with those of other insects. Observations made on the reproductive systems of four species of Epicauta are also discussed in this context.

scholarly journals Mating Induces Switch From Hormone-Dependent to – Independent Steroid Receptor-Mediated Growth in Drosophila Prostate-Like Cells

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aaron Leiblich ◽  
Josephine E. E. U. Hellberg ◽  
Aashika Sekar ◽  
Carina Gandy ◽  
Siamak Redhai ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cancer Progression ◽  
Seminal Fluid ◽  
Sexual Experience ◽  
Adult Life ◽  
Accessory Gland ◽  
Accessory Glands ◽  
Morphogenetic Protein ◽  
A Cell ◽  
Cell Type Specific ◽  
Bmp Signalling

AbstractMale reproductive glands like the mammalian prostate and the paired Drosophila melanogaster accessory glands secrete seminal fluid components that enhance fecundity. In humans, the prostate grows throughout adult life, stimulated by environmentally regulated endocrine and local androgens. We previously showed that in each fly accessory gland, secondary cells (SCs) and their nuclei also grow in adults, a process enhanced by mating and controlled by bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signalling. Here we demonstrate that BMP-mediated SC growth is dependent on the receptor for the developmental steroid, ecdysone, whose concentration reflects socio-sexual experience in adults. BMP signalling regulates ecdysone receptor (EcR) levels post-transcriptionally, partly via EcR’s N-terminus. Nuclear growth in virgin males is ecdysone-dependent. However, mating activates genome endoreplication to drive additional BMP-mediated nuclear growth via a cell type-specific form of hormone-independent EcR signalling. In virgin males with low ecdysone levels, this mechanism ensures resources are conserved. However, by switching to hormone-independence after mating, this control is overridden to hyper-activate growth of secretory secondary cells. Our data suggest parallels between this physiological, behaviour-induced switch and altered pathological signalling associated with prostate cancer progression.

scholarly journals Multi-level analysis of reproduction in the Antarctic midge, Belgica antarctica, identifies female and male accessory gland products that are altered by larval stress and impact progeny viability

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Geoffrey Finch ◽  
Sonya Nandyal ◽  
Carlie Perrieta ◽  
Benjamin Davies ◽  
Andrew J. Rosendale ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Storage Proteins ◽  
Adult Life ◽  
Accessory Gland ◽  
Specific Gene ◽  
Functional Studies ◽  
Accessory Glands ◽  
Belgica Antarctica ◽  
The Antarctic ◽  
The Impact

AbstractThe Antarctic midge, Belgica antarctica, is a wingless, non-biting midge endemic to Antarctica. Larval development requires at least two years, but adult life lasts only two weeks. The nonfeeding adults mate in swarms and females die shortly after oviposition. Eggs are suspended in a gel of unknown composition that is expressed from the female accessory gland. This project characterizes molecular mechanisms underlying reproduction in this midge by examining differential gene expression in whole males, females, and larvae, as well as in male and female accessory glands. Functional studies were used to assess the role of the gel encasing the eggs, as well as the impact of stress on reproductive biology. RNA-seq analyses revealed sex- and development-specific gene sets along with those associated with the accessory glands. Proteomic analyses were used to define the composition of the egg-containing gel, which is generated during multiple developmental stages and derived from both the accessory gland and other female organs. Functional studies indicate the gel provides a larval food source and thermal and dehydration buffer, all of which are critical for viability. Larval dehydration stress directly reduces production of storage proteins and key accessory gland components, a feature that impacts adult reproductive success. Modeling reveals that bouts of dehydration may significantly impact population growth. This work lays a foundation for further examination of reproduction in midges and provides new information related to general reproduction in dipterans. A key aspect is that reproduction and stress dynamics, currently understudied in polar organisms, are likely to prove critical for determining how climate change will alter survivability.

Formation of spermatophore in ejaculatory duct of yellow mealworm beetle, Tenebrio molitor: SEM study

1992 ◽  
Vol 50 (1) ◽  
pp. 674-675
Author(s):  
Frantíšek Weyda ◽  
George M. Happ
Keyword(s):  
Seminal Fluid ◽  
Ejaculatory Duct ◽  
Tenebrio Molitor ◽  
High Viscosity ◽  
Secretory Cells ◽  
Main Role ◽  
Whole Process ◽  
Accessory Glands ◽  
Low Viscosity ◽  
Mealworm Beetle

Main role of the accessory glands of Tenebrio molitor male is to facilitate transfer of sperm to the females. They produce heterogeneous secretions. Two anatomically distinct glands are present. While the tubular accessory glands (TAG) are composed of the secretory cells of one type only, the bean-shaped accessory glands (BAG) consist of eight cellular types. Low viscosity secretion of the TAG mix with sperms forming seminal fluid while high viscosity secretions (spermatophorins) of the BAG are largely transformed into the insoluble wall and core of the spermatophore. The prespermatophoric mass is transferred to the ejaculatory duct (EJD) where solidify and forms the complex spermatophore. Immunocytochemical experiments with monoclonal antibodies based on the colloidal gold technique were used in order to understand exact composition of individual layers of the spermatophore. In the recent study we have used SEM to observe the whole process of the formation of spermatophore in the ejaculatory duct.

Dual role of the Pax genepairedin accessory gland development ofDrosophila

Development ◽  
2002 ◽  
Vol 129 (2) ◽  
pp. 339-346 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lei Xue ◽  
Markus Noll
Keyword(s):  
Male Fertility ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Accessory Gland ◽  
Dual Role ◽  
Secretory Cells ◽  
Adult Males ◽  
Mating Activity ◽  
Promote Cell Proliferation ◽  
Accessory Glands ◽  
Late Function

The Drosophila Pax gene paired encodes a transcription factor that is required for the activation of segment-polarity genes and proper segmentation of the larval cuticle, postembryonic viability and male fertility. We show that paired executes a dual role in the development of male accessory glands, the organ homologous to the human prostate. An early function is necessary to promote cell proliferation, whereas a late function, which regulates the expression of accessory gland products such as the sex peptide and Acp26Aa protein, is essential for maturation and differentiation of accessory glands. The late function exhibits in main and secondary secretory cells of accessory glands dynamic patterns of Paired expression that depend in both cell types on the mating activity of adult males, possibly because Paired expression is regulated by negative feedback. The early Paired function depends on domains or motifs in its C-terminal moiety and the late function on the DNA-binding specificity of its N-terminal paired-domain and/or homeodomain. Both Paired functions are absolutely required for male fertility, and both depend on an enhancer located within 0.8 kb of the downstream region of paired.

scholarly journals Trehalase from male accessory gland of an insect, Tenebrio molitor. cDNA sequencing and developmental profile of the gene expression

1992 ◽  
Vol 288 (1) ◽  
pp. 19-22 ◽  
Author(s):  
M Takiguchi ◽  
T Niimi ◽  
Z H Su ◽  
T Yaginuma
Keyword(s):  
Tenebrio Molitor ◽  
Northern Blotting ◽  
Accessory Gland ◽  
Specific Gene ◽  
Cdna Sequencing ◽  
Gene Expressions ◽  
Accessory Glands ◽  
Stage Specificity ◽  
Mealworm Beetle ◽  
Rabbit Small Intestine

A cDNA of alpha alpha-trehalase (EC 3.2.1.28) from a cDNA library of male bean-shaped accessory gland of the mealworm beetle, Tenebrio molitor, has been isolated by the homology screening approach. Sequence analysis of the cDNA (1830 bp) revealed that the cDNA encoded a protein of 555 amino acids with a calculated M(r) of 64457. The deduced amino acid sequence had significant similarities to rabbit small intestine and Escherichia coli trehalases. Northern blotting and semi-quantitative PCR analyses revealed that a trehalase transcript with about 2.0 kb was abundant in bean-shaped accessory glands. In the glands, the amount of trehalase transcript increased from 1 to 2 days after adult ecdysis. These tissue- and stage-specific gene expressions of trehalase corresponded to the tissue- and stage-specificity of trehalase activity.

Offsetting Effects of Wolbachia Infection and Heat Shock on Sperm Production inDrosophila simulans: Analyses of Fecundity, Fertility and Accessory Gland Proteins

Genetics ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 155 (1) ◽  
pp. 167-178 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rhonda R Snook ◽  
Sophia Y Cleland ◽  
Mariana F Wolfner ◽  
Timothy L Karr
Keyword(s):  
Heat Shock ◽  
Natural Populations ◽  
Adult Life ◽  
Reproductive Factors ◽  
Male Gamete ◽  
Wolbachia Infection ◽  
Accessory Gland ◽  
Sperm Production ◽  
Accessory Gland Proteins ◽  
Mating Conditions

AbstractInfection in Drosophila simulans with the endocellular symbiont Wolbachia pipientis results in egg lethality caused by failure to properly initiate diploid development (cytoplasmic incompatibility, CI). The relationship between Wolbachia infection and reproductive factors influencing male fitness has not been well examined. Here we compare infected and uninfected strains of D. simulans for (1) sperm production, (2) male fertility, and (3) the transfer and processing of two accessory gland proteins, Acp26Aa or Acp36De. Infected males produced significantly fewer sperm cysts than uninfected males over the first 10 days of adult life, and infected males, under varied mating conditions, had lower fertility compared to uninfected males. This fertility effect was due to neither differences between infected and uninfected males in the transfer and subsequent processing of accessory gland proteins by females nor to the presence of Wolbachia in mature sperm. We found that heat shock, which is known to decrease CI expression, increases sperm production to a greater extent in infected compared to uninfected males, suggesting a possible link between sperm production and heat shock. Given these results, the roles Wolbachia and heat shock play in mediating male gamete production may be important parameters for understanding the dynamics of infection in natural populations.

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