The molecular basis and reproductive function(s) of copulatory plugs

Schneider, Marlon R.; Mangels, Rachel; Dean, Matthew D.

doi:10.1002/mrd.22689

Cited by 36 publications

(33 citation statements)

References 153 publications

(197 reference statements)

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“…Hence, it is possible that subordinate males may partly compensate for their disadvantaged role in sperm competition by investing relatively more in the production of functionally relevant nonsperm ejaculate components. For example, in rodents, the seminal fluid proteins are used to produce a substantial copulatory plug, which is thought to promote male success in sperm competition by promoting transport of the mating male's own sperm, and/or blocking the sperm of rival males [28,29]. Subordinate males might, therefore, benefit by investing more in the production of key proteins used in forming these plugs, potentially facilitating the production of plugs that are more difficult for rival males or females to dislodge.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Social status and ejaculate composition in the house mouse

Bayram

Franco

Brownridge

et al. 2020

Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B

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Sperm competition theory predicts that males should tailor ejaculates according to their social status. Here, we test this in a model vertebrate, the house mouse ( Mus musculus domesticus ), combining experimental data with a quantitative proteomics analysis of seminal fluid composition. Our analyses reveal that both sperm production and the composition of proteins found in seminal vesicle secretions differ according to social status. Dominant males invested more in ejaculate production overall. Their epididymides contained more sperm than those of subordinate or control males, despite similar testes size between the groups. Dominant males also had larger seminal vesicle glands than subordinate or control males, despite similar body size. However, the seminal vesicle secretions of subordinate males had a significantly higher protein concentration than those of dominant males. Moreover, detailed proteomic analysis revealed subtle but consistent differences in the composition of secreted seminal vesicle proteins according to social status, involving multiple proteins of potential functional significance in sperm competition. These findings have significant implications for understanding the dynamics and outcome of sperm competition, and highlight the importance of social status as a factor influencing both sperm and seminal fluid investment strategies. This article is part of the theme issue ‘Fifty years of sperm competition’.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Social status and ejaculate composition in the house mouse

Bayram

Franco

Brownridge

et al. 2020

Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B

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“…Schneider et al . (in press) recently reviewed experiments aimed at characterizing plug function, which generally fall into one of two categories. One category includes experimental removal or reduction of plugs soon after formation; these experiments generally demonstrate that first males lose paternity to second males when their plugs are compromised (Martan & Shepherd, ; Dickinson & Rutowski, ; Sutter & Lindholm, ; Sutter et al ., ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Copulatory plugs inhibit the reproductive success of rival males

Mangels

Tsung

Kwan

et al. 2016

J of Evolutionary Biology

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Ejaculated proteins play important roles in reproductive fitness. In many species, seminal fluid coagulates and forms what has been referred to as a copulatory plug in the female's reproductive tract. In mice, previous work demonstrated that knockout males missing a key seminal fluid protein were unable to form a plug and less successful at siring litters in non-competitive matings (one female, one male), probably the result of reduced sperm transport or insufficient stimulation of the female. Here we extend these previous studies to competitive matings (one female, two males), and make two key insights. First, when first males were unable to form a plug, they lost almost all paternity to second males to mate. Thus, the copulatory plugs of second males could not rescue the reduced fertility of first males. Second, we showed that the copulatory plug of first males effectively blocks fertilization by second males, even if first males are vasectomized. Taken together, our experiments demonstrate that first males lose almost all paternity if they never form a plug. We discuss our results in the context of natural populations, where in spite of the strong effects seen here, pregnant female mice regularly carry litters fertilized by more than one male.

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“…Transglutaminase crosslinks SVS2, a major protein in the mouse seminal fluid, with other seminal vesicle secretion proteins to form the copulatory plug that may prevent backflow of the sperm and may prevent further mating with other males [ 26 ]. SVS2 was demonstrated to protect sperm from attack by uterus-derived cytotoxic factors [ 27 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Serine Protease Inhibitor SERPINE2 Reversibly Modulates Murine Sperm Capacitation

Hwu

et al. 2018

IJMS

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SERPINE2 (serpin peptidase inhibitor, clade E, member 2), predominantly expressed in the seminal vesicle, can inhibit murine sperm capacitation, suggesting its role as a sperm decapacitation factor (DF). A characteristic of DF is its ability to reverse the capacitation process. Here, we investigated whether SERPINE2 can reversibly modulate sperm capacitation. Immunocytochemical staining revealed that SERPINE2 was bound onto both capacitated and uncapacitated sperm. It reversed the increase in BSA-induced sperm protein tyrosine phosphorylation levels. The effective dose and incubation time were found to be >0.1 mg/mL and >60 min, respectively. Calcium ion levels in the capacitated sperm were reduced to a level similar to that in uncapacitated sperm after 90 min of incubation with SERPINE2. In addition, the acrosome reaction of capacitated sperm was inhibited after 90 min of incubation with SERPINE2. Oviductal sperm was readily induced to undergo the acrosome reaction using the A23187 ionophore; however, the acrosome reaction was significantly reduced after incubation with SERPINE2 for 60 and 120 min. These findings suggested that SERPINE2 prevented as well as reversed sperm capacitation in vitro. It also prevented the acrosome reaction in in vivo-capacitated sperm isolated from the oviduct. Thus, SERPINE2 could reversibly modulate murine sperm capacitation.

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The molecular basis and reproductive function(s) of copulatory plugs

Cited by 36 publications

References 153 publications

Social status and ejaculate composition in the house mouse

Social status and ejaculate composition in the house mouse

Copulatory plugs inhibit the reproductive success of rival males

Serine Protease Inhibitor SERPINE2 Reversibly Modulates Murine Sperm Capacitation

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