Sex-peptide activates juvenile hormone biosynthesis in theDrosophila melanogaster corpus allatum

Abstract

Mating elicits two well‐defined reactions in sexually matured females of many insects: reduction of receptivity and increased oviposition. These post‐mating responses have been shown to be induced by factors synthesized in the reproductive tract of the adult male and transferred in the seminal fluid to the female during copulation. One of these factors, named sex‐peptide (SP), has been identified in Drosophila melanogaster. Using an in vitro radiochemical assay, we show that synthetic sex‐peptide considerably activates juvenile hormone III‐bisepoxide (JHB3) synthesis in corpus allatum (CA) excised from Days 3 and 4 post‐eclosion virgin females. Base levels are significantly lower at emergence (Day 0) than on subsequent days, and only weak stimulation is obtained on Day 1, while none is obtained on Day 2, where maximal basal synthesis occurs. The CA of mated females cannot be stimulated further for at least 7 days, but regain responsiveness by Day 10 after mating. Synthesis of JHB3 stimulated by SP in vitro persists for at least 4 h after removal of the peptide. Development of responsiveness of the CA to SP in vitro is compared with development of the post‐mating reactions of sex‐peptide injected virgin females. Our results suggest that the CA is a direct target for SP in vivo and that sexual maturity is established separately for the two post‐mating reactions. © 1996 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.

Mating alters gene expression patterns in Drosophila melanogaster male heads

“…Males also transfer Sex-peptide to the female during mating [71-73]. Sex-peptide increases JH levels in females [74], which stimulates egg development [75]. However, possible mating-induced changes in male JH levels have not been evaluated.…”

TheDrosophilaPost-mating Response: Gene Expression and Behavioral Changes Reveal Perdurance and Variation in Cross-Tissue Interactions

“…The gradual release of SP bound to sperm is required for the longterm PMR (1-7 days, Peng et al 2005). SP stimulates production of JH in the corpus allatum and ecdysone in the ovaries, with this SP-dependent increase of ecdysone driving the proliferation of germline stem cells ( Figure S1, purple arrows; Moshitzky et al 1996;Ameku and Niwa 2016). Further evidence that these signaling pathways mediate the PMR is that perturbation of the insulin signaling pathway, ecdysone, or JH impacts female reproductive behaviors (Ringo et al 1991;Ringo et al 2005;Wigby et al 2011;Ganter et al 2012;Watanabe and Sakai 2016).…”

Characterization of Reproductive Dormancy in Male Drosophila melanogaster

“…In this context it can be noted that female discrimination against older males has been reported in several other species, and it may be beneficial for increased fertility to mate with younger males (Ottiger et al, 2000; Saudan et al, 2002). Actually a reduction in fecundity after reproductive diapause has been observed in different insect groups, including Hymenoptera (Soller et al, 1997), Lepidoptera (Kim et al, 2008), and Coleoptera (Moshitzky et al, 1996) and may be seen as a trade-off for postponed reproduction.…”

“…Gradual depletion of metabolic stores therefore occurs during diapause (Hahn and Denlinger, 2007). In addition, post-diapause recovery, including finalizing oogenesis and spermatogenesis, also requires using metabolic stores (Moshitzky et al, 1996; Soller et al, 1997; Jones et al, 2016; Liu et al, 2016). During dormancy males of D. melanogaster seem to use stored nutrients faster than females.…”