Male Accessory Gland Protein Reduces Egg Laying in a Simultaneous Hermaphrodite

The rate of egg deposition by mature virgin females of the migratory grasshopper, Melanoplus sanguinipes (F.), increased markedly after implantation of accessory glands from mature males. Implants consisting of one-half of a complete set of glands, or of the 10 short hyaline glands alone, were about equally effective in increasing the rate of egg deposition. However, in each case the oviposition rate was less than that of normally mated females of the same age. Implanting only the white glands of the accessory gland complex had a lesser effect on egg-laying and implants of the long hyaline gland or of the seminal vesicle had little or no effect.Our results indicate that the physical act of mating per se or the presence of sperm probably do not provide the primary stimulus to egg-laying. The abdominal location of the implanted accessory gland does, however, suggest that some diffusible chemical substance is responsible for increasing egg deposition in these virgin females.

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Reduced egg laying caused by a male accessory gland product opens the possibility for sexual conflict in a simultaneous hermaphrodite

Animal Biology ◽

10.1163/157075509x12499949744306 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 59 (4) ◽

pp. 435-448 ◽

Cited By ~ 18

Author(s):

Joris Koene ◽

Jeroen Hoffer ◽

Annelies Brouwer

Keyword(s):

Sexual Conflict ◽

Lymnaea Stagnalis ◽

Seminal Fluid ◽

Accessory Gland ◽

Egg Laying ◽

Simultaneous Hermaphrodite ◽

Internal Fertilization ◽

Sperm Donors ◽

Underlying Mechanisms ◽

Simultaneous Hermaphrodites

AbstractPromiscuity, sperm storage and internal fertilization enhance sperm competition, which leads to sexual conflict whenever an advantageous trait for sperm donors is harmful to recipients. In separate-sex species, such conflicts can severely impact the evolution of reproductive characteristics, physiology and behaviours. For simultaneous hermaphrodites, the generality of this impact remains unclear and underlying mechanisms remain largely unexplored. In the hermaphrodite Lymnaea stagnalis several previous studies showed that investment in eggs differs depending on semen receipt, but these were inconsistent about the direction of change. We investigated whether the change in egg laying is caused by a seminal fluid component. By intravaginally injecting animals, we here reveal that a component of the seminal fluid inhibits egg laying, thus providing the first direct evidence for involvement of such components in competition for fertilization in hermaphrodites. We discuss the broad implications that this finding has on a number of previous studies performed in the same species.

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A Drosophila male accessory gland protein that is a member of the serpin superfamily of proteinase inhibitors is transferred to females during mating

Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology ◽

10.1016/0965-1748(94)00055-m ◽

1995 ◽

Vol 25 (2) ◽

pp. 203-207 ◽

Cited By ~ 47

Author(s):

Sean Coleman ◽

Brent DrÄhn ◽

Greg Petersen ◽

Javor Stolorov ◽

Kevin Kraus

Keyword(s):

Proteinase Inhibitors ◽

Accessory Gland ◽

Male Accessory Gland ◽

Accessory Gland Protein

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Localization of the Drosophila male accessory gland protein Acp36DE in the mated female suggests a role in sperm storage

Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology ◽

10.1016/s0965-1748(96)00064-1 ◽

1996 ◽

Vol 26 (8-9) ◽

pp. 971-980 ◽

Cited By ~ 88

Author(s):

Michael J. Bertram ◽

Deborah M. Neubaum ◽

Mariana F. Wolfner

Keyword(s):

Accessory Gland ◽

Sperm Storage ◽

Male Accessory Gland ◽

Accessory Gland Protein ◽

Mated Female

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Cross-Species Comparison of Drosophila Male Accessory Gland Protein Genes

Genetics ◽

10.1534/genetics.105.043844 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 171 (1) ◽

pp. 131-143 ◽

Cited By ~ 119

Author(s):

J. L. Mueller ◽

K. Ravi Ram ◽

L. A. McGraw ◽

M. C. Bloch Qazi ◽

E. D. Siggia ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Accessory Gland ◽

Species Comparison ◽

Male Accessory Gland ◽

Accessory Gland Protein ◽

Cross Species Comparison

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Oviposition after sex: mated Anastrepha ludens (Diptera: Tephritidae) females increase oviposition without receiving an ejaculate

The Canadian Entomologist ◽

10.4039/tce.2021.12 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-14

Author(s):

M. Reyes-Hernández ◽

G. Córdova-García ◽

F. Díaz-Fleischer ◽

N. Flores-Estévez ◽

D. Pérez-Staples

Keyword(s):

Egg Production ◽

Ovarian Development ◽

Fruit Fly ◽

Accessory Gland ◽

Egg Laying ◽

Anastrepha Ludens ◽

Male Accessory Gland ◽

Female Behaviour ◽

External Stimuli

Abstract Mating and receiving ejaculate can alter female insect physiology and postcopulatory behaviour. During mating, females receive both internal and external stimuli and different components in the ejaculate. In insects, these components consist mostly of sperm and male accessory gland secretions. Some of the most important changes associated with receiving male accessory gland secretions are a reduction in female sexual receptivity and an increase in oviposition. However, a clear function for these molecules has not been found in the Mexican fruit fly Anastrepha ludens (Loew) (Diptera: Tephritidae). Here, we tested how the stimulus of mating, receiving a full ejaculate, or only receiving accessory gland secretions can influence ovarian development and oviposition. Our results indicate that the stimulus of mating per se is enough to induce oviposition and increase egg laying in females even if ejaculate is not received, whereas receiving only accessory gland secretions does not increase ovarian development and is not enough to induce oviposition or increase egg production. Further research on the internal and external copulatory courtship of A. ludens will increase our understanding of the role of these secretions in stimulating oviposition independent of ejaculate effects. A biological function for male accessory gland secretions on female behaviour for A. ludens still needs to be found.

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