Seminal Fluid Affects Sperm Viability in a Cricket

Simmons, Leigh W.; Beveridge, Maxine

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0017975

Cited by 49 publications

(50 citation statements)

References 42 publications

(49 reference statements)

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“…Because gene transcription is apparently absent in sperm cells, their functionality is largely dependent on post-translational modifications to their protein compliment that are brought about by sfps. Sfps are known to influence the viability of sperm (den Boer et al 2008, Holman 2009, Simmons & Beveridge 2011 and their motility (Lindholmer 1974, Poiani 2006. In some insect species, Sperm wars seminal fluid has been implicated in the killing of sperm present from rival males (Fry & Wilkinson 2004, den Boer et al 2010, and it has even been suggested that males might exploit the expenditure on sfps made by their rivals, for example, if sfps buffered the female reproductive tract against spermicidal secretions (Hodgson & Hosken 2006).…”

Section: Strategic Adjustments In Seminal Fluid Compositionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sperm wars and the evolution of male fertility

Simmons¹,

Fitzpatrick²

2012

Reproduction

300

343

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Females frequently mate with several males, whose sperm then compete to fertilize available ova. Sperm competition represents a potent selective force that is expected to shape male expenditure on the ejaculate. Here, we review empirical data that illustrate the evolutionary consequences of sperm competition. Sperm competition favors the evolution of increased testes size and sperm production. In some species, males appear capable of adjusting the number of sperm ejaculated, depending on the perceived levels of sperm competition. Selection is also expected to act on sperm form and function, although the evidence for this remains equivocal. Comparative studies suggest that sperm length and swimming speed may increase in response to selection from sperm competition. However, the mechanisms driving this pattern remain unclear. Evidence that sperm length influences sperm swimming speed is mixed and fertilization trials performed across a broad range of species demonstrate inconsistent relationships between sperm form and function. This ambiguity may in part reflect the important role that seminal fluid proteins (sfps) play in affecting sperm function. There is good evidence that sfps are subject to selection from sperm competition, and recent work is pointing to an ability of males to adjust their seminal fluid chemistry in response to sperm competition from rival males. We argue that future research must consider sperm and seminal fluid components of the ejaculate as a functional unity. Research at the genomic level will identify the genes that ultimately control male fertility.

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Section: Strategic Adjustments In Seminal Fluid Compositionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sperm wars and the evolution of male fertility

Simmons¹,

Fitzpatrick²

2012

Reproduction

300

343

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“…Seminal fluid proteins (SFPs) are being increasingly studied owing to their effects on fertility and female physiology (Poiani, ). SFPs improve male fertility directly, maintaining sperm viability and motility (eg King et al ., ; Simmons & Beveridge, ; Smith & Stanfield, ). Furthermore, many SFPs influence female traits, such as egg production and remating rate (Mane et al ., ; Chapman, ) and are therefore likely targets of selection via sexual conflict (Arnqvist & Rowe, ; Sirot et al ., ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Novel seminal fluid proteins in the seed beetle Callosobruchus maculatus identified by a proteomic and transcriptomic approach

Bayram

Sayadi

Goenaga

et al. 2016

Insect Molecular Biology

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The seed beetle Callosobruchus maculatus is a significant agricultural pest and increasingly studied model of sexual conflict. Males possess genital spines that increase the transfer of seminal fluid proteins (SFPs) into the female body. As SFPs alter female behaviour and physiology, they are likely to modulate reproduction and sexual conflict in this species. Here, we identified SFPs using proteomics combined with a de novo transcriptome. A prior 2D-sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis identified male accessory gland protein spots that were probably transferred to the female at mating. Proteomic analysis of these spots identified 98 proteins, a majority of which were also present within ejaculates collected from females. Standard annotation workflows revealed common functional groups for SFPs, including proteases and metabolic proteins. Transcriptomic analysis found 84 transcripts differentially expressed between the sexes. Notably, genes encoding 15 proteins were highly expressed in male abdomens and only negligibly expressed within females. Most of these sequences corresponded to 'unknown' proteins (nine of 15) and may represent rapidly evolving SFPs novel to seed beetles. Our combined analyses highlight 44 proteins for which there is strong evidence that they are SFPs. These results can inform further investigation, to better understand the molecular mechanisms of sexual conflict in seed beetles.

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“…Some studies have recently shown that seminal fluids may play a more direct role in sperm competition by affecting rivals' sperm performance. Indeed, in promiscuous ants and bees seminal fluid incapacitates the sperm of rival males [22], while in other insects it improves equally the survival of own and other sperm [23,24]. This suggests that, unless a self/non-self recognition mechanism evolves [23], the function of seminal fluid to enhance own sperm performance can be exploited by the sperm of rival males [25].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Tactic-specific differences in seminal fluid influence sperm performance

2013

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Seminal fluid often makes up a large part of an ejaculate, yet most empirical and theoretical studies on sperm competition have focused on how sperm characteristics (number and quality) affect fertilization success. However, seminal fluid influences own sperm performance and may potentially influence the outcome of sperm competition, by also affecting that of rivals. As a consequence males may be expected to allocate their investment in both sperm and seminal fluid in relation to the potential level of competition. Grass goby (Zosterisessor ophiocephalus) is an external fertilizer with guardsneaker mating tactics, where sperm competition risk varies according to the tactic adopted. Here, we experimentally manipulated grass goby ejaculates by separately combining sperm and seminal fluid from territorial and sneaker males. While sperm of sneaker and territorial males did not differ in their performance when they interacted with their own seminal fluid only, sperm of sneakers increased their velocity and fertilization rate in the presence of territorial males' seminal fluid. By contrast, sneaker males' seminal fluid had a detrimental effect on the performance of territorial males' sperm. Sperm velocity was unaffected by the seminal fluid of males employing the same tactic, suggesting that seminal fluid's effect on rival-tactic sperm is not based on a self/non-self recognition mechanism. Our findings show that cross interactions of sperm and seminal fluid may influence the fertilization success of competing ejaculates with males investing in both sperm and seminal fluid in response to sperm competition risk.

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Seminal Fluid Affects Sperm Viability in a Cricket

Cited by 49 publications

References 42 publications

Sperm wars and the evolution of male fertility

Sperm wars and the evolution of male fertility

Novel seminal fluid proteins in the seed beetle Callosobruchus maculatus identified by a proteomic and transcriptomic approach

Tactic-specific differences in seminal fluid influence sperm performance

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