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Degueldre F, Aron S. Long-term sperm storage in eusocial Hymenoptera. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2023; 98:567-583. [PMID: 36397639 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12919] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2022] [Revised: 10/29/2022] [Accepted: 11/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
In internally fertilizing species, sperm transfer is not always immediately followed by egg fertilization, and female sperm storage (FSS) may occur. FSS is a phenomenon in which females store sperm in a specialized organ for periods lasting from a few hours to several years, depending on the species. Eusocial hymenopterans (ants, social bees, and social wasps) hold the record for FSS duration. In these species, mating takes place during a single nuptial flight that occurs early in adult life for both sexes; they never mate again. Males die quickly after copulation but survive posthumously as sperm stored in their mates' spermathecae. Reproductive females, also known as queens, have a much longer life expectancy, up to 20 years in some species. Here, we review what is currently known about the molecular adaptations underlying the remarkable FSS capacities in eusocial hymenopterans. Because sperm quality is crucial to the reproductive success of both sexes, we also discuss the mechanisms involved in sperm storage and preservation in the male seminal vesicles prior to ejaculation. Finally, we propose future research directions that should broaden our understanding of this unique biological phenomenon.
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Affiliation(s)
- Félicien Degueldre
- Evolutionary Biology and Ecology, CP 160/12, Université Libre de Bruxelles, B-1050, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Serge Aron
- Evolutionary Biology and Ecology, CP 160/12, Université Libre de Bruxelles, B-1050, Brussels, Belgium
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2
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Méndez-Tepepa M, Morales-Cruz C, García-Nieto E, Anaya-Hernández A. A review of the reproductive system in anuran amphibians. ZOOLOGICAL LETTERS 2023; 9:3. [PMID: 36782341 PMCID: PMC9926845 DOI: 10.1186/s40851-023-00201-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2022] [Accepted: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Reproductive biology is an important topic that is well explored in many vertebrates, but information about frogs' reproductive mechanisms could be improved. Therefore, this review aims to provide organized and specific information on frog reproduction. First, we developed schemes that illustrate the general information regarding reproductive biological mechanisms in frogs in a specific way. Then, we described the physiological, histological, and morphological mechanisms of each organ of the reproductive system of male and female frogs. Finally, this manuscript may contribute to a broader understanding of anuran reproductive biology. Since, understanding frogs' reproductive system permits one to make a comparison with reproduction with other anurans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maribel Méndez-Tepepa
- Centro de Investigación en Genética y Ambiente, Universidad Autónoma de Tlaxcala, Autopista San Martín-Tlaxcala Km 10.5, Ixtacuixtla, 90120, Tlaxcala, Mexico.
| | - Cuauhtémoc Morales-Cruz
- Centro de Investigación en Genética y Ambiente, Universidad Autónoma de Tlaxcala, Autopista San Martín-Tlaxcala Km 10.5, Ixtacuixtla, 90120, Tlaxcala, Mexico
| | - Edelmira García-Nieto
- Centro de Investigación en Genética y Ambiente, Universidad Autónoma de Tlaxcala, Autopista San Martín-Tlaxcala Km 10.5, Ixtacuixtla, 90120, Tlaxcala, Mexico
| | - Arely Anaya-Hernández
- Centro de Investigación en Genética y Ambiente, Universidad Autónoma de Tlaxcala, Autopista San Martín-Tlaxcala Km 10.5, Ixtacuixtla, 90120, Tlaxcala, Mexico
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3
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Shankar G, Gagan TA, Kumari TRS, Marathe GK. Sperm storage by females across the animal phyla: A survey on the occurrence and biomolecules involved in sperm storage. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL ZOOLOGY. PART B, MOLECULAR AND DEVELOPMENTAL EVOLUTION 2022; 340:283-297. [PMID: 36581603 DOI: 10.1002/jez.b.23189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2021] [Revised: 11/10/2022] [Accepted: 12/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Long-term sperm storage by females in various regions of the oviduct is documented across many invertebrate and vertebrate species. Although, many reports emphasize on the histology, histochemistry and ultrastructural features of sperm storage, very little is known about the mechanisms underlying the sperm storage. The current review documents the occurrence of sperm storage by females in a wide array of invertebrate and vertebrate species. This review also provides an insight on the presence of various molecular factors of the sperm storage tubules presumably responsible for the prolonged sperm storage with an emphasis on a model reptile, the Indian garden lizard, Calotes versicolor which contains a unique approximately 55-kDa protein in its utero-vaginal lavage and found to inhibit washed epididymal sperm motility in a concentration and time-dependent manner in a reversible fashion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Goutham Shankar
- Department of Studies in Biochemistry, University of Mysore, Mysore, Karnataka, India
| | - Thumbala A Gagan
- Department of Studies in Biochemistry, University of Mysore, Mysore, Karnataka, India.,Department of Zoology, St. Philomena's College, Bannimantap, Mysore, Karnataka, India
| | - Titus R S Kumari
- Department of Zoology, St. Philomena's College, Bannimantap, Mysore, Karnataka, India
| | - Gopal K Marathe
- Department of Studies in Biochemistry, University of Mysore, Mysore, Karnataka, India.,Department of Studies in Molecular Biology, University of Mysore, Mysore, Karnataka, India
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4
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Fliniaux I, Marchand G, Molinaro C, Decloquement M, Martoriati A, Marin M, Bodart JF, Harduin-Lepers A, Cailliau K. Diversity of sialic acids and sialoglycoproteins in gametes and at fertilization. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:982931. [PMID: 36340022 PMCID: PMC9630641 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.982931] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2022] [Accepted: 10/10/2022] [Indexed: 09/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Sialic acids are a family of 9-carbon monosaccharides with particular physicochemical properties. They modulate the biological functions of the molecules that carry them and are involved in several steps of the reproductive process. Sialoglycoproteins participate in the balance between species recognition and specificity, and the mechanisms of these aspects remain an issue in gametes formation and binding in metazoan reproduction. Sialoglycoproteins form a specific coat at the gametes surface and specific polysialylated chains are present on marine species oocytes. Spermatozoa are submitted to critical sialic acid changes in the female reproductive tract facilitating their migration, their survival through the modulation of the female innate immune response, and the final oocyte-binding event. To decipher the role of sialic acids in gametes and at fertilization, the dynamical changes of enzymes involved in their synthesis and removal have to be further considered.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Katia Cailliau
- Univ. Lille, CNRS, UMR 8576-UGSF-Unité de Glycobiologie Structurale et Fonctionnelle, Lille, France
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5
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Dare GC, Murray RG, Courcelles DMM, Malt JM, Palen WJ. Run‐of‐river dams as a barrier to the movement of a stream‐dwelling amphibian. Ecosphere 2020. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.3207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Griffin C. Dare
- Department of Biological Sciences Earth to Ocean Research Group Simon Fraser University 8888 University Drive Burnaby British ColumbiaV5A 1S6Canada
| | - Rylee G. Murray
- Department of Biological Sciences Earth to Ocean Research Group Simon Fraser University 8888 University Drive Burnaby British ColumbiaV5A 1S6Canada
| | - Danielle M. M. Courcelles
- Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations & Rural Development Suite 20010438 153rd Street Surrey British ColumbiaV3R 1E1Canada
- Department of Forest and Conservation Sciences University of British Columbia Science Centre 3002 Vancouver British ColumbiaV6T 1Z4Canada
| | - Joshua M. Malt
- Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations & Rural Development Suite 20010438 153rd Street Surrey British ColumbiaV3R 1E1Canada
| | - Wendy J. Palen
- Department of Biological Sciences Earth to Ocean Research Group Simon Fraser University 8888 University Drive Burnaby British ColumbiaV5A 1S6Canada
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6
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Schulte LM, Ringler E, Rojas B, Stynoski JL. Developments in Amphibian Parental Care Research: History, Present Advances, and Future Perspectives. HERPETOLOGICAL MONOGRAPHS 2020. [DOI: 10.1655/herpmonographs-d-19-00002.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Lisa M. Schulte
- Goethe University Frankfurt, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Max-von-Laue-Strasse 13, 60438 Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Eva Ringler
- Messerli Research Institute, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Medical University of Vienna, University of Vienna, Veterinaerplatz 1, A-1210 Vienna, Austria
| | - Bibiana Rojas
- University of Jyvaskyla, Department of Biology and Environmental Science, P.O. Box 35, 40014, Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - Jennifer L. Stynoski
- Colorado State University, Department of Biology, 200 W. Lake Street, Fort Collins, CO, 48823 USA
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Wen C, Mai C, Wang B, Li J, Sun C, Yang N. Detrimental effects of excessive fatty acid secretion on female sperm storage in chickens. J Anim Sci Biotechnol 2020; 11:26. [PMID: 32266065 PMCID: PMC7114795 DOI: 10.1186/s40104-020-0432-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2019] [Accepted: 01/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Female sperm storage (FSS), the maintenance of sperm inside the female reproductive tract for an extended period of time, is pervasive among organisms with internal fertilization. Because FSS enables asynchronous mating and fertilization, it could be extremely important to reproduction. However, the physiological mechanisms underlying prolonged preservation and maintenance are poorly understood. Here, we used chicken, a typical oviparous animal, to determine the mechanisms ensuring sperm functionality in sperm storage tubules (SSTs). Results We performed an insemination experiment on over two thousand hens at two periods, and found that the FSS capabilities varied widely among individuals. Except for the differences in the SST density between the two groups with distinct FSS abilities, we quantitatively profiled small-molecule metabolites derived from SST cells, and identified 28 metabolites with differential expression. In particular, high levels of lipids, fatty acids and lipid peroxidation product were observed in hens with low FSS capability. Pathway analysis showed that these differential metabolites were significantly enriched in the biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acids. Moreover, we detected the total antioxidant capacity and lipid peroxidation level of SSTs, and found that chickens with a lower FSS ability had a significantly higher content of lipid peroxidation end-product, which was 2.4-fold greater than chickens with a higher FSS capability, and no significant difference was found in the total antioxidant capacity between these two groups. Conclusions Our findings reveal that the long-term storage of sperm and the maintenance of their function in the female reproductive tract require an adequate microenvironment. The superabundance of fatty acids secreted by SST cells had detrimental effects on sperm storage in the female reproductive tract. Lipid peroxidation produces toxic biological substances that may cause irreversible damage to resident spermatozoa, resulting in short-term sperm retention and decreased fertility. Our findings provide new avenues for studying sperm storage and sustaining fertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chaoliang Wen
- 1Department of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193 China.,2National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding and Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193 China
| | - Chunning Mai
- 1Department of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193 China.,2National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding and Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193 China
| | - Bin Wang
- 1Department of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193 China.,2National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding and Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193 China
| | - Junying Li
- 1Department of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193 China.,2National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding and Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193 China
| | - Congjiao Sun
- 1Department of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193 China.,2National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding and Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193 China
| | - Ning Yang
- 1Department of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193 China.,2National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding and Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193 China
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8
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Abdelli M, Benbellil-Tafoughalt S, Koene JM. Intra-specific morphological variation of the spermatheca in the simultaneously hermaphroditic land snail Helix aperta. ZOOMORPHOLOGY 2017. [DOI: 10.1007/s00435-017-0379-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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9
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Abstract
The capacity for sperm storage within the female reproductive tract occurs widely across all groups of vertebrate species and is exceptionally well developed in some reptiles (maximum duration seven years) and fishes (maximum duration >1 year). Although there are many reports on both the occurrence of female sperm storage in diverse species and its adaptive benefits, few studies have been directed toward explaining the mechanisms involved. In this article we review recent findings in birds and mammals in an effort to develop hypotheses that could be translated into research applications in animal breeding technologies. There are pockets of evidence to suggest that the local epithelial cells, sometimes arranged as sperm storage tubules, can respond to spermatozoa by producing heat shock proteins as well as providing an environment rich in antioxidants. Moreover, the local immune system seems to tolerate the arrival of spermatozoa, while retaining the ability to combat the arrival of infectious microorganisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- William V Holt
- Academic Unit of Reproductive and Developmental Medicine, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2SF, United Kingdom; ;
| | - Alireza Fazeli
- Academic Unit of Reproductive and Developmental Medicine, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2SF, United Kingdom; ;
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10
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Li Q, Hu L, Yang P, Zhang Q, Waqas Y, Liu T, Zhang L, Wang S, Chen W, Le Y, Ullah S, Chen Q. Expression of TLR2/4 in the sperm-storing oviduct of the Chinese soft-shelled turtle Pelodiscus sinensis during hibernation season. Ecol Evol 2015; 5:4466-79. [PMID: 26664692 PMCID: PMC4667826 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.1726] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2015] [Revised: 08/22/2015] [Accepted: 08/24/2015] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
The initiation of innate immunology system could play an important role in the aspect of protection for sperms long-term storage when the sperms got into oviduct of turtles and come into contact with epithelium. The exploration of TLR2/4 distribution and expression in oviduct during hibernation could help make the storage mechanism understandable. The objective of this study was to examine the gene and protein expression profiles in Chinese soft-shelled turtle during hibernation from November to April in the next year. The protein distribution of TLR2/4 was investigated in the magnum, isthmus, uterus, and vagina of the turtle oviduct using immunohistochemistry, and the gene expression of TLR2/4 was analyzed using quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). The results showed positive TLR2 protein expression primarily in the epithelium of the oviduct. TLR4 immunoreactivity was widely observed in almost every part of the oviduct, particularly in the epithelium and secretory gland membrane. Analysis of protein, mRNA expression revealed the decreased expression of TLR2/4 in the magnum compared with the isthmus, uterus, and vagina during hibernation. The protein and mRNA expression of TLR2 in the magnum, isthmus, uterus, and vagina was decreased in April compared with that in November. TLR4 protein and mRNA expression in the magnum, isthmus, uterus and vagina was decreased in November compared with that in April. These results indicated that TLR2/4 expression might protect the sperm from microbial infections. In contrast to the function of TLR2, which protects sperm during the early stages of hibernation, TLR4 might play a role in later stages of storage. The present study is the first to report the functions of TLR2/4 in reptiles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Quanfu Li
- Laboratory of Animal Cell Biology and EmbryologyCollege of Veterinary MedicineNanjing Agricultural UniversityNanjingChina
| | - Lisi Hu
- Laboratory of Animal Cell Biology and EmbryologyCollege of Veterinary MedicineNanjing Agricultural UniversityNanjingChina
| | - Ping Yang
- Laboratory of Animal Cell Biology and EmbryologyCollege of Veterinary MedicineNanjing Agricultural UniversityNanjingChina
| | - Qian Zhang
- Laboratory of Animal Cell Biology and EmbryologyCollege of Veterinary MedicineNanjing Agricultural UniversityNanjingChina
| | - Yasir Waqas
- Laboratory of Animal Cell Biology and EmbryologyCollege of Veterinary MedicineNanjing Agricultural UniversityNanjingChina
| | - Tengfei Liu
- Laboratory of Animal Cell Biology and EmbryologyCollege of Veterinary MedicineNanjing Agricultural UniversityNanjingChina
| | - Linli Zhang
- Laboratory of Animal Cell Biology and EmbryologyCollege of Veterinary MedicineNanjing Agricultural UniversityNanjingChina
| | - Shuai Wang
- Laboratory of Animal Cell Biology and EmbryologyCollege of Veterinary MedicineNanjing Agricultural UniversityNanjingChina
| | - Wei Chen
- Laboratory of Animal Cell Biology and EmbryologyCollege of Veterinary MedicineNanjing Agricultural UniversityNanjingChina
| | - Yuan Le
- Laboratory of Animal Cell Biology and EmbryologyCollege of Veterinary MedicineNanjing Agricultural UniversityNanjingChina
| | - Shakeeb Ullah
- Laboratory of Animal Cell Biology and EmbryologyCollege of Veterinary MedicineNanjing Agricultural UniversityNanjingChina
| | - Qiusheng Chen
- Laboratory of Animal Cell Biology and EmbryologyCollege of Veterinary MedicineNanjing Agricultural UniversityNanjingChina
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Shankar G, Sagar BKC, Kumari TRS, Marathe GK. Ultrastructural Features of Sperm Storage Tubules in the Oviduct of the Indian Garden Lizard, Calotes Versicolor. Anat Rec (Hoboken) 2015; 298:1932-7. [PMID: 26270354 DOI: 10.1002/ar.23257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2015] [Revised: 06/13/2015] [Accepted: 06/18/2015] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
This study provides the first description of the ultrastructural features of sperm storage tubules (SSTs) in the uterovaginal region of the oviduct of the Indian garden lizard, Calotes versicolor. Abundant spermatozoa along with copious secretory material were found in the lumen of the SSTs. These secretory granules appeared similar in electron density to those found in the epithelial cells lining the SSTs indicating their similar origin. The close physical proximity of sperm with these granules suggests an intimate association between the two. The present study is also the first report of recovery of motile sperm from the flushings of SSTs in C. versicolor. The density of sperm found in the flushings varied, being most abundant during the reproductive phase and minimum/absent during the regressive phase. Understanding the microenvironment of the SSTs, the nature of the secretory granules and their interaction with sperm can guide us in unraveling the biology of oviductal sperm storage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Goutham Shankar
- Department of Studies in Biochemistry, University of Mysore, Manasagangotri, Mysore, Karnataka, India.,Department of Zoology, St. Philomena's College, Bannimantap, Mysore, Karnataka, India
| | | | | | - Gopal Kedihithlu Marathe
- Department of Studies in Biochemistry, University of Mysore, Manasagangotri, Mysore, Karnataka, India
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12
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Wake MH. Fetal adaptations for viviparity in amphibians. J Morphol 2014; 276:941-60. [DOI: 10.1002/jmor.20271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2013] [Revised: 02/03/2014] [Accepted: 02/09/2014] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Marvalee H. Wake
- Department of Integrative Biology and Museum of Vertebrate Zoology; University of California; Berkeley California 94720-3140
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13
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Liu G, Jiang X, He C, Tang Z. Neurexophilin 1 gene polymorphism in chickens and its variation among species. Biochem Genet 2013; 51:618-25. [PMID: 23605718 DOI: 10.1007/s10528-013-9591-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2012] [Accepted: 12/03/2012] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Neurexophilin 1 (nxph1) has been considered a potential candidate marker for sperm storage in chicken sperm storage tubules. In this work, one mutation of chicken nxph1 was detected. We analyzed 18 nxph1 gene sequences from 18 species. The coding sequence length of the zebra fish nxph1 gene is 819 bp; that of the other species is 816 bp. Amino acid alignment analysis revealed that the gene product is a conserved protein, especially in mammals. The sequences of mammals are highly conserved. We found 202 conserved amino acids (70-271), and there were only eight mutations in the remaining 69 amino acids. That level of conservation could be due to the nxph1 gene having been subjected to substantial constraints or strong purifying selection during millions of years of evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guiqiong Liu
- College of Animal Sciences and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
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14
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Fernandez S, Rodrigues RF, Rici REG, Favaron PO, De Melo APF. Ultrastructure of the bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus-Shaw, 1802) oviduct in different seasons. Microsc Res Tech 2013; 76:523-32. [DOI: 10.1002/jemt.22195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2013] [Revised: 02/01/2013] [Accepted: 02/03/2013] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Sthefanie Fernandez
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of Rio Preto; Rua Ivete Gabril Atique; 45, 15025-400; Sao Jose do Rio Preto; Sao Paulo; Brazil
| | - Rosângela Felipe Rodrigues
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science; University of Sao Paulo; Av. Prof. Dr. Orlando Marques de Paiva, 87; 05508-270; Sao Paulo; Brazil
| | - Rose Eli Grassi Rici
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science; University of Sao Paulo; Av. Prof. Dr. Orlando Marques de Paiva, 87; 05508-270; Sao Paulo; Brazil
| | - Phelipe Oliveira Favaron
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science; University of Sao Paulo; Av. Prof. Dr. Orlando Marques de Paiva, 87; 05508-270; Sao Paulo; Brazil
| | - Alan Peres Ferraz De Melo
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science; University of Sao Paulo; Av. Prof. Dr. Orlando Marques de Paiva, 87; 05508-270; Sao Paulo; Brazil
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15
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Kuehnel S, Kupfer A. Sperm storage in caecilian amphibians. Front Zool 2012; 9:12. [PMID: 22672478 PMCID: PMC3418217 DOI: 10.1186/1742-9994-9-12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2012] [Accepted: 06/06/2012] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Female sperm storage has evolved independently multiple times among vertebrates to control reproduction in response to the environment. In internally fertilising amphibians, female salamanders store sperm in cloacal spermathecae, whereas among anurans sperm storage in oviducts is known only in tailed frogs. Facilitated through extensive field sampling following historical observations we tested for sperm storing structures in the female urogenital tract of fossorial, tropical caecilian amphibians. Findings In the oviparous Ichthyophis cf. kohtaoensis, aggregated sperm were present in a distinct region of the posterior oviduct but not in the cloaca in six out of seven vitellogenic females prior to oviposition. Spermatozoa were found most abundantly between the mucosal folds. In relation to the reproductive status decreased amounts of sperm were present in gravid females compared to pre-ovulatory females. Sperm were absent in females past oviposition. Conclusions Our findings indicate short-term oviductal sperm storage in the oviparous Ichthyophis cf. kohtaoensis. We assume that in female caecilians exhibiting high levels of parental investment sperm storage has evolved in order to optimally coordinate reproductive events and to increase fitness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susanne Kuehnel
- Institut für Spezielle Zoologie und Evolutionsbiologie mit Phyletischem Museum, Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena, Erbertstraße 1, 07743, Jena, Germany.
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Holt WV. Mechanisms of sperm storage in the female reproductive tract: an interspecies comparison. Reprod Domest Anim 2012; 46 Suppl 2:68-74. [PMID: 21884282 DOI: 10.1111/j.1439-0531.2011.01862.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Once semen has been collected for artificial insemination, it is diluted into extenders designed to prevent its deterioration over the period prior to insemination. If the semen is not frozen, the extenders provide protection for a period of a few hours to a few days, depending on species. Despite the efforts of biotechnologists to increase the duration of storage without compromising fertility, there has been relatively little progress for many years. However, comparative studies in diverse species have revealed that long-term sperm storage (up to months and years) within the female reproductive tract is relatively commonplace in reptiles, fishes, birds and amphibians. Even among mammals, some species of bat have evolved mechanisms for storing spermatozoa for several months in the uterus or oviduct so that they can mate in the autumn but postpone fertilization until the spring. We currently know little about the mechanisms that support such long-term sperm storage, mainly because evidence from such species is either absent or fragmentary. Nevertheless, parallels between mammalian and other systems, where spermatozoa are sequestered in sperm storage tubules, suggest that the enclosure of spermatozoa within pockets of epithelial cells may be sufficient to achieve long-term sperm storage. In addition, recent evidence from sperm-storing bats has suggested an alternative, or additional, hypothesis that the modulation of apoptosis within epithelial cells is important in controlling sperm survival. Despite a lack of direct experimental evidence from a wide variety of species, I propose that there is now enough evidence to warrant investigation of these hypotheses.
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Affiliation(s)
- William V Holt
- Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regent's Park, London, UK.
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17
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Moura T, Serra-Pereira B, Gordo LS, Figueiredo I. Sperm storage in males and females of the deepwater shark Portuguese dogfish with notes on oviducal gland microscopic organization. J Zool (1987) 2011. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-7998.2010.00775.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Roberts JD, Byrne PG. Polyandry, Sperm Competition, and the Evolution of Anuran Amphibians. ADVANCES IN THE STUDY OF BEHAVIOR 2011. [DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-380896-7.00001-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/18/2023]
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Holt W, Lloyd R. Sperm storage in the vertebrate female reproductive tract: How does it work so well? Theriogenology 2010; 73:713-22. [DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2009.07.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 90] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2009] [Accepted: 05/22/2009] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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Sperm Aggregations in the Spermathecae of Southern Torrent Salamanders, Rhyacotriton variegatus. J HERPETOL 2004. [DOI: 10.1670/164-03a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
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Kasinsky HE, Frehlick LJ, Su HWH, Ausio J. Protamines in the internally fertilizing neobatrachian frogEleutherodactylus coqui. Mol Reprod Dev 2004; 70:373-81. [PMID: 15696590 DOI: 10.1002/mrd.20207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
The internally fertilizing primitive frog Ascaphus truei (family Ascaphidae) from the Pacific Northwest is the only frog with an intromittent organ. The more advanced neobatrachian frog Eleutherodactylus coqui (family Leptodactylidae) from Puerto Rico has secondarily acquired internal fertilization but mates by cloacal apposition. Nonetheless, both frogs have introsperm with an elongated head containing highly condensed chromatin. Characterization of sperm nuclear basic proteins (SNBPs) in E. coqui by acid-urea polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis indicates that, as in A. truei, testes from a single animal contain several protamines. Amino acid analysis indicates a composition for the most rapidly moving protamine of each species as follows: in E. coqui, ARG (35.6 mol %) + LYS (3.8 mol %) + HIS (7.6 mol %) = 47 mol % total basic residues and in A. truei, ARG (42.1 mol %) + LYS (11.1 mol %) = 53.2 mol % total basic residues. Transmission electron microscopy shows that E. coqui introsperm, like those in A. truei, are elongate with highly condensed chromatin. However, E. coqui introsperm lacks an axial perforatorium that extends into an endonuclear canal. These morphological features are plesiomorphic (primitive) and shared by A. truei with urodeles and basal amniotes (Jamieson et al. (1993) Herpetologica 49:52-65). In E. coqui introsperm, the nucleoprotein complex has a cross-sectional axis of 420 + 20 angstroms and shows a knobby chromatin structural organization in TEM. The presence of arginine-enriched protamines in both a basal anuran like the ascaphid A. truei and a more advanced neobatrachian like the leptodactylid E. coqui supports the hypothesis that internal fertilization acts as a constraint on the range of SNBP diversity in animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harold E Kasinsky
- Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, 6270 University Blvd., Vancouver, B.C., Canada, V6T 1Z4.
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Gudo M, Homberger DG. The functional morphology of the pectoral fin girdle of the Spiny Dogfish (Squalus acanthias): Implications for the evolutionary history of the pectoral girdle of vertebrates. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2002. [DOI: 10.1007/bf03043787] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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Abstract
The three orders of extant amphibians are Gymnophiona, Anura, and Urodela. Although all gymnophionans apparently have internal fertilization and many are viviparous, female sperm storage is unknown. Internal fertilization has convergently evolved in a few anurans, but females of just one species, Ascaphus truei, are known to possess oviductal sperm storage tubules (SSTs). The SSTs of A. truei are similar anatomically to such glands in squamate reptiles. This similarity is convergence due to similar functional adaptations and/or internal design constraints. In salamanders and newts (Urodela), absence of sperm storage in females is the ancestral condition (three families). In the derived condition, sperm storage occurs in cloacal glands called spermathecae, and their possession is a synapomorphy for females in the suborder Salamandroidea (seven families). Salamandroids are the only vertebrates with cloacal sperm storage glands. In this paper, a phenetic analysis of variation in spermathecal characters reveals patterns of convergence in certain spermathecal characters in unrelated taxa that breed in similar habitats. In the family Salamandridae, a role in sperm nutrition for the spermathecal epithelium is questioned, and the widespread occurrence of spermiophagy is related to other reproductive strategies. I propose how the packaging of sperm in structurally different types of spermathecae may influence male paternity.
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Affiliation(s)
- David M Sever
- Department of Biology, Saint Mary's College, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556, USA
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Sever DM, Hamlett WC. Female sperm storage in reptiles. THE JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL ZOOLOGY 2002; 292:187-99. [PMID: 11754034 DOI: 10.1002/jez.1154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 91] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Internal fertilization and oviparity most likely are symplesiomorphies for modern reptiles, and viviparity has evolved independently numerous times in Sauria and Serpentes. Oviducal sperm storage is known in females of all taxa except Amphisbaenia. However, in Rhynchocephalia and Crocodilia, sperm storage is poorly studied, and specialized sperm storage tubules (Ssts) are unknown. We use the molecular phylogenetic hypothesis [(Chelonia+Archosauria) (Squamata)] to trace evolution of sperm storage characters. Ssts arose independently in Chelonia and Squamata. Turtles possess albumen-secreting glands in the anterior half of the oviduct (the tuba or isthmus), and the most distal of these glands also serve as Ssts; in addition, some turtles possess Ssts in the adjacent segment of the oviduct, the uterus. Squamates lack albumen-secreting glands, and the ancestral state is possession of Ssts in the posterior infundibulum (uterine tube). Secondarily, iguanids have evolved vaginal Ssts. In this paper, we present the first ultrastructural observations on vaginal Ssts in lizards, using Anolis sagrei (Polychrotidae). Proximally, the neck of these simple tubular glands continues the alternation of ciliated and secretory cells lining the lumen of the vagina. However, the epithelial cells of the distal sperm storage area are neither secretory nor ciliated. The Ssts of Anolis are more similar to those of birds more than to infundibular receptacles in snakes and lizards.
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Affiliation(s)
- David M Sever
- Department of Biology, Saint Mary's College, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556, USA.
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