Sperm morphological diversity

Pitnick, Scott; Hosken, David J.; Birkhead, Tim R.

doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-372568-4.00003-3

Cited by 338 publications

(479 citation statements)

References 402 publications

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“…The differences in sperm morphology between populations and species evolve rapidly (Pitnick et al, 2009). The diversity in sperm design is poorly understood on the functional and evolutionary level.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The spermatozoa structure peculiarities of the subgenus Sumeriomys (Rodentia, Arvicolinae, Microtus)

Zorenko¹,

Golenishchev²

2015

Rus.J.Theriol.

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ABSTRACT. Owing to distinct differences in size and shape in different taxa, spermatozoa can be of a high diagnostic value. The functional and evolutionary nature of such diversity is poorly understood. The purpose of the study was to summarize the data on the differences in sperm design and linear parameters between the subgenera Sumeriomys and Microtus (the genus Microtus) and to carry out the same comparison between the "socialis" and "guentheri" groups of species within the subgenus Sumeriomys. We obtained the data on shape and size of spermatozoa in seven nominal forms of the subgenus Sumeriomys. The species of the subgenus Sumeriomys are quite similar in sperm design, which distinctly differs from that in the representatives of the subgenus Microtus. The spermatozoa of the Sumeriomys species also differ from those of the Microtus representatives in some linear measurements and quantitative indices. These data confirm the taxonomic distinctness of the social voles as an independent subgenus Sumeriomys. Within the subgenus Sumeriomys some essential differences were revealed in sperm dimensions. The largest spermatozoa are observed in the species of the "guentheri" group, especially in M. guentheri (a head length 7.60 µκ). In M. hartingi they are slightly smaller in size (in two subspecies correspondingly 6.96 and 7.25 mk). In three nominal forms of the "socialis" group the spermatozoa are smaller (a head length 7.01-7.21 µκ), than in the "guentheri" group. The ratio of head length to its width in M. guentheri and M. hartingi is respectively 1.5 and 1.46, while in the "socialis" group, 1.42-1.47. In voles of the subgenus Microtus it is 1.8-2.4. The length of the medium part of spermatozoon's tail is the most variable character. The ratio of the sperm tail medium part length to head length in Microtus is higher than 2.8 (2.8-3.2), but in Sumeriomys it is lower than 2.8 (2.4-2.7). Особенности строения сперматозоидов у общественных полевок подрода Sumeriomys (Rodentia, Arvicolinae, Microtus) Т.А. Зоренко, Ф.Н. Голенищев РЕЗЮМЕ. Сперматозоиды у представителей разных таксонов отличаются по форме и размерам и, поэтому, могут иметь большую диагностическую ценность. Причины и пути возникновения этого разнообразия не ясны. Цель работы -сравнить между собой морфологию и линейные размеры сперматозоидов у видов полевок подродов Sumeriomys и Microtus (род Microtus), а также сравнить в пределах подрода Sumeriomys две группы "socialis" и "guentheri". Были получены данные по форме и размерам сперматозоидов у пяти номинальных форм подрода Sumeriomys. Форма сперма-тозоида сходна у всех изученных видов подрода Sumeriomys, но хорошо отличается от таковой полевок подрода Microtus. Между сперматозоидами представителей этих подродов также отмечены различия по линейным показателям и количественным индексам. Все это соответствует выделению общественных полевок в самостоятельный подрод Sumeriomys. Основные отличия были выявлены в размерах сперматозоидов. Наиболее крупные сперматозоиды обнаружены у видов группы "guentheri", в особеннос...

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The spermatozoa structure peculiarities of the subgenus Sumeriomys (Rodentia, Arvicolinae, Microtus)

Zorenko¹,

Golenishchev²

2015

Rus.J.Theriol.

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“…Resource allocation into testes for sperm production and into 53 epididymides for sperm maturation might differ between individuals, especially if intraspecific 54 polymorphism in behavioral tactics to achieve reproductive success exists, referred to as 55 alternative reproductive tactics (ARTs; Pitnick et al, 2009;. Within 56 social vertebrates, tactics employed might include being a dominant territorial breeder male 57 (also called bourgeois male), or a sneaker male (also called satellite or roamer male) which 58 solicit matings with females defended by the territorial males (Gross, 1996; Taborsky et al, 59…”

Section: Introduction 51mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Sneaker males of species with single 78 strategies might not invest more than dominant males in sperm, as they also have to invest in 79 survival to be able to switch to the dominant territorial tactic. Further, if dominant males 80 experience high sperm competition by other males, they might also have to invest highly into 81 sperm production (Pitnick et al, 2009). To our knowledge, all studies on the influence of 82…”

Section: Introduction 51mentioning

confidence: 99%

Differential investment into testes and sperm production in alternative male reproductive tactics of the African striped mouse (Rhabdomys pumilio)

Schradin¹,

Eder²,

Müller³

2012

Hormones and Behavior

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Males that follow alternative reproductive tactics might differ in their investment into testis development and sperm production. The resource-allocation hypothesis predicts that males following a sneaker tactic should invest more into sperm production than dominant territorial males which should invest more into mate guarding. This hypothesis is supported by studies in species where individual males cannot switch between tactics (fixed tactics). Here we present the first data for a species where males can switch between tactics (plastic tactics). We studied African striped mice (Rhabdomys pumilio) in captivity, mimicking three tactics observed in the field: philopatric group-living males, singly-housed males representing roaming males, and group-living breeding males. We measured quantitative and qualitative reproductive traits, as well as serum and testis hormone concentrations. We found no support for the resource-allocation hypothesis, since breeding and singly-housed males invested similarly in testes and sperm. However, philopatric males had significantly smaller testes and epididymides, lower sperm counts, lower testosterone and higher corticosterone levels than males of the two other tactics. Philopatric males did not reach a larger body mass than singly-housed males with well developed reproductive traits, indicating that they did not trade investment in sperm production against growth. Interestingly, testis testosterone concentrations of philopatric males did not differ from those of other males. Our data suggest that philopatric males are reproductively suppressed by the breeding male, but might be ready to increase their serum testosterone levels when social and environmental conditions allow for this physiological switch accompanying the behavioral switch between tactics.

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“…Flies, in particular, are noteworthy for the investment that many species make in individual sperm. Drosophila contains numerous species that produce giant sperm, including Drosophila bifurca, a species that has the longest sperm recorded for any animal [135]. The large sperm production entails a physiological cost in terms of delayed sexual maturity [136] and males modulate sperm production based on the availability of females [137].…”

Section: Stalk-eyed Fly Genomicsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Gene duplication, tissue-specific gene expression and sexual conflict in stalk-eyed flies (Diopsidae)

Baker

Narechania

Johns

et al. 2012

Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B

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Gene duplication provides an essential source of novel genetic material to facilitate rapid morphological evolution. Traits involved in reproduction and sexual dimorphism represent some of the fastest evolving traits in nature, and gene duplication is intricately involved in the origin and evolution of these traits. Here, we review genomic research on stalk-eyed flies (Diopsidae) that has been used to examine the extent of gene duplication and its role in the genetic architecture of sexual dimorphism. Stalk-eyed flies are remarkable because of the elongation of the head into long stalks, with the eyes and antenna laterally displaced at the ends of these stalks. Many species are strongly sexually dimorphic for eyespan, and these flies have become a model system for studying sexual selection. Using both expressed sequence tag and next-generation sequencing, we have established an extensive database of gene expression in the developing eye-antennal imaginal disc, the adult head and testes. Duplicated genes exhibit narrower expression patterns than nonduplicated genes, and the testes, in particular, provide an abundant source of gene duplication. Within somatic tissue, duplicated genes are more likely to be differentially expressed between the sexes, suggesting gene duplication may provide a mechanism for resolving sexual conflict.

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Sperm morphological diversity

Cited by 338 publications

References 402 publications

The spermatozoa structure peculiarities of the subgenus Sumeriomys (Rodentia, Arvicolinae, Microtus)

The spermatozoa structure peculiarities of the subgenus Sumeriomys (Rodentia, Arvicolinae, Microtus)

Differential investment into testes and sperm production in alternative male reproductive tactics of the African striped mouse (Rhabdomys pumilio)

Gene duplication, tissue-specific gene expression and sexual conflict in stalk-eyed flies (Diopsidae)

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