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Míčková K, Jelínek V, Tomášek O, Stopková R, Stopka P, Albrecht T. Proteomic analysis reveals dynamic changes in cloacal fluid composition during the reproductive season in a sexually promiscuous passerine. Sci Rep 2024; 14:14259. [PMID: 38902251 PMCID: PMC11190206 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-62244-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2024] [Accepted: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 06/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Cryptic female choice (CFC) is a component of postcopulatory sexual selection that allows females to influence the fertilization success of sperm from different males. While its precise mechanisms remain unclear, they may involve the influence of the protein composition of the female reproductive fluids on sperm functionality. This study maps the protein composition of the cloacal fluid across different phases of female reproductive cycle in a sexually promiscuous passerine, the barn swallow. Similar to mammals, the protein composition in the female reproductive tract differed between receptive (when females copulate) and nonreceptive phases. With the change in the protein background, the enriched gene ontology terms also shifted. Within the receptive phase, distinctions were observed between proteomes sampled just before and during egg laying. However, three proteins exhibited increased abundance during the entire receptive phase compared to nonreceptive phases. These proteins are candidates in cryptic female choice, as all of them can influence the functionality of sperm or sperm-egg interaction. Our study demonstrates dynamic changes in the cloacal environment throughout the avian breeding cycle, emphasizing the importance of considering these fluctuations in studies of cryptic female choice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristýna Míčková
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology, The Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Václav Jelínek
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology, The Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Oldřich Tomášek
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology, The Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Romana Stopková
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Pavel Stopka
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic.
| | - Tomáš Albrecht
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic.
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology, The Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic.
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2
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Gueho A, Żarski D, Rime H, Guével B, Com E, Lavigne R, Nguyen T, Montfort J, Pineau C, Bobe J. Evolutionarily conserved ovarian fluid proteins are responsible for extending egg viability in salmonid fish. Sci Rep 2024; 14:9651. [PMID: 38671194 PMCID: PMC11053066 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-60118-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2023] [Accepted: 04/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
In contrast to most fishes, salmonids exhibit the unique ability to hold their eggs for several days after ovulation without significant loss of viability. During this period, eggs are held in the body cavity in a biological fluid, the coelomic fluid (CF) that is responsible for preserving egg viability. To identify CF proteins responsible for preserving egg viability, a proteomic comparison was performed using 3 salmonid species and 3 non-salmonid species to identify salmonid-specific highly abundant proteins. In parallel, rainbow trout CF fractions were purified and used in a biological test to estimate their egg viability preservation potential. The most biologically active CF fractions were then subjected to mass spectrometry analysis. We identified 50 proteins overabundant in salmonids and present in analytical fractions with high egg viability preservation potential. The identity of these proteins illuminates the biological processes participating in egg viability preservation. Among identified proteins of interest, the ovarian-specific expression and abundance in CF at ovulation of N-acetylneuraminic acid synthase a (Nansa) suggest a previously unsuspected role. We show that salmonid CF is a complex biological fluid containing a diversity of proteins related to immunity, calcium binding, lipid metabolism, proteolysis, extracellular matrix and sialic acid metabolic pathway that are collectively responsible for preserving egg viability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aurélie Gueho
- INRAE UR1037, Fish Physiology and Genomics, 35000, Rennes, France
| | - Daniel Żarski
- Department of Gamete and Embryo Biology, Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research, Polish Academy of Sciences, Tuwima Str. 10, 10-748, Olsztyn, Poland
| | - Hélène Rime
- INRAE UR1037, Fish Physiology and Genomics, 35000, Rennes, France
| | - Blandine Guével
- Inserm, EHESP, Irset, UMR_S 1085, Univ Rennes, 35000, Rennes, France
- CNRS, Inserm, Biosit UAR 3480 US_S 018, Protim Core Facility, Univ Rennes, 35000, Rennes, France
| | - Emmanuelle Com
- Inserm, EHESP, Irset, UMR_S 1085, Univ Rennes, 35000, Rennes, France
- CNRS, Inserm, Biosit UAR 3480 US_S 018, Protim Core Facility, Univ Rennes, 35000, Rennes, France
| | - Régis Lavigne
- Inserm, EHESP, Irset, UMR_S 1085, Univ Rennes, 35000, Rennes, France
- CNRS, Inserm, Biosit UAR 3480 US_S 018, Protim Core Facility, Univ Rennes, 35000, Rennes, France
| | - Thaovi Nguyen
- INRAE UR1037, Fish Physiology and Genomics, 35000, Rennes, France
| | - Jérôme Montfort
- INRAE UR1037, Fish Physiology and Genomics, 35000, Rennes, France
| | - Charles Pineau
- Inserm, EHESP, Irset, UMR_S 1085, Univ Rennes, 35000, Rennes, France
- CNRS, Inserm, Biosit UAR 3480 US_S 018, Protim Core Facility, Univ Rennes, 35000, Rennes, France
| | - Julien Bobe
- INRAE UR1037, Fish Physiology and Genomics, 35000, Rennes, France.
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Bisai K, Kumar V, Roy A, Parida SN, Dhar S, Das BK, Behera BK, Pati MK. Effects of Di-(2-Ethylhexyl) Phthalate (DEHP) on Gamete Quality Parameters of Male Koi Carp ( Cyprinus carpio). Curr Issues Mol Biol 2023; 45:7388-7403. [PMID: 37754251 PMCID: PMC10529456 DOI: 10.3390/cimb45090467] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2023] [Revised: 09/05/2023] [Accepted: 09/06/2023] [Indexed: 09/28/2023] Open
Abstract
In this study, we evaluated gamete quality parameters of mature male koi carp (Cyprinus carpio) exposed to three different concentrations (1, 10, and 100 µg/L) of di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP). After 60 days of exposure, there was a significant decrease in the gonadosomatic index (GSI) of males exposed to 10 and 100 µg/L of DEHP. Histological analysis of the testes revealed impaired histoarchitecture, including inflammatory cells, intratubular vacuoles, and swollen seminiferous tubules in treatment groups. Gamete quality parameters like sperm production, motility, spermatocrit, and sperm density values were significantly decreased at the 10 and 100 µg/L concentrations. Biochemical compositions, including glucose, cholesterol, and total protein levels, were significantly changed in the treatment groups. Similarly, the ionic compositions of seminal fluid (Na, K, Ca, and Mg) also varied in the treatment groups. Furthermore, the 11-ketotestosterone levels were decreased, and the 17-β estradiol levels were increased in the DEHP-treated groups. The mRNA expression levels of reproduction-related genes, including Fshr, Lhr, Ar, Erα, and Erβ, were significantly changed in the DEHP-treated males in a dose-dependent manner. In conclusion, the findings of this study confirmed that environmentally relevant exposure to DEHP may contribute to a decline in the gamete quality of male fishes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kampan Bisai
- Biotechnology Laboratory, ICAR-Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute, Barrackpore, Kolkata 700120, West Bengal, India; (K.B.)
- Department of Fishery Sciences, Vidyasagar University, Midnapore, Paschim Medinipur 721102, West Bengal, India
| | - Vikash Kumar
- Biotechnology Laboratory, ICAR-Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute, Barrackpore, Kolkata 700120, West Bengal, India; (K.B.)
| | - Arpita Roy
- Biotechnology Laboratory, ICAR-Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute, Barrackpore, Kolkata 700120, West Bengal, India; (K.B.)
| | - Satya Narayan Parida
- Biotechnology Laboratory, ICAR-Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute, Barrackpore, Kolkata 700120, West Bengal, India; (K.B.)
| | - Souvik Dhar
- Biotechnology Laboratory, ICAR-Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute, Barrackpore, Kolkata 700120, West Bengal, India; (K.B.)
| | - Basanta Kumar Das
- Biotechnology Laboratory, ICAR-Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute, Barrackpore, Kolkata 700120, West Bengal, India; (K.B.)
| | - Bijay Kumar Behera
- College of Fisheries, Rani Lakshmi Bai Central Agricultural University, Gwalior Road, Jhansi 284003, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Manoj Kumar Pati
- Department of Fishery Sciences, Vidyasagar University, Midnapore, Paschim Medinipur 721102, West Bengal, India
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Pinzoni L, Locatello L, Gasparini C, Rasotto MB. Female reproductive fluid concentrations affect sperm performance of alternative male phenotypes in an external fertilizer. J Evol Biol 2023; 36:1198-1207. [PMID: 37438920 DOI: 10.1111/jeb.14199] [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: 06/16/2022] [Revised: 05/05/2023] [Accepted: 05/31/2023] [Indexed: 07/14/2023]
Abstract
There is growing evidence that the female reproductive fluid (FRF) plays an important role in cryptic female choice through its differential effect on the performance of sperm from different males. In a natural spawning event, the male(s) may release ejaculate closer or further away from the spawning female. If the relative spatial proximity of competing males reflects the female pre-mating preference towards those males, then favoured males will encounter higher concentrations of FRF than unpreferred males. Despite this being a common situation in many external fertilizers, whether different concentrations of FRF can differentially influence the sperm performance of distinct male phenotypes (favoured and unfavoured by the female) remains to be elucidated. Here, we tested this hypothesis using the grass goby (Zosterisessor ophiocephalus), a fish with distinct territorial-sneaker reproductive tactics and female pre-mating preference towards territorial males, that consequently mate in an advantaged position and whose sperm experience higher concentrations of FRF. Our findings revealed a differential concentration-dependent effect of FRF over sneaker and territorial sperm motility only at low concentrations (i.e. at the distance where sneakers typically ejaculate), with increasing FRF concentrations (i.e. close to the eggs) similarly boosting the sperm performance of both sneaker and territorial males. The ability to release sperm close to the eggs is a prerogative of territorials, but FRF can likewise advantage the sperm of those sneakers that are able to get closer, allowing flexibility in the direction of female post-mating choice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Livia Pinzoni
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Lisa Locatello
- Department of Biology and Evolution of Marine Organisms (BEOM), Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Fano Marine Center, Fano, Italy
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5
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Lantiegne TH, Purchase CF. Can cryptic female choice prevent invasive hybridization in external fertilizing fish? Evol Appl 2023; 16:1412-1421. [PMID: 37622094 PMCID: PMC10445091 DOI: 10.1111/eva.13573] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2022] [Accepted: 06/08/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Polyandrous mating systems result in females mating with multiple males, generating opportunities for strong pre-mating and post-mating sexual selection. Polyandry also creates the potential for unintended matings and subsequent sperm competition with hybridizing species. Cryptic female choice allows females to bias paternity towards preferred males under sperm competition and may include conspecific sperm preference when under hybridization risk. The potential for hybridization becomes particularly important in context of invasive species that can novelly hybridize with natives, and by definition, have evolved allopatrically. We provide the first examination of conspecific sperm preference in a system of three species with the potential to hybridize: North American native Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) and brook char (Salvelinus fontinalis), and invasive brown trout (Salmo trutta) from Europe. Using naturalized populations on the island of Newfoundland, we measured changes in sperm swimming performance, a known predictor of paternity, to determine the degree of modification in sperm swimming to female cues related to conspecific sperm preference. Compared to water alone, female ovarian fluid in general had a pronounced effect and changed sperm motility (by a mean of 53%) and swimming velocity (mean 30%), but not linearity (mean 6%). However, patterns in the degree of modification suggest there is no conspecific sperm preference in the North American populations. Furthermore, female cues from both native species tended to boost the sperm of invasive males more than their own. We conclude that cryptic female choice via ovarian fluid mediated sperm swimming modification is too weak in this system to prevent invasive hybridization and is likely insufficient to promote or maintain reproductive isolation between the native North American species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tyler H. Lantiegne
- Department of BiologyMemorial University of NewfoundlandSt. John'sNewfoundland & LabradorCanada
| | - Craig F. Purchase
- Department of BiologyMemorial University of NewfoundlandSt. John'sNewfoundland & LabradorCanada
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6
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Dziewulska K, Pilarska M. Spermatozoa motility traits of chub ( Squalius cephalus L.) under the influence of various water factors. THE EUROPEAN ZOOLOGICAL JOURNAL 2023. [DOI: 10.1080/24750263.2022.2159078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- K. Dziewulska
- Institute of Biology, Department of Hydrobiology, University of Szczecin, Szczecin, Poland
- Center of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, University of Szczecin, Szczecin, Poland
| | - M. Pilarska
- Institute of Technical Physics, Faculties of Mechanical Engineering, West Pomeranian University of Technology, Szczecin, Poland
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Wang X, Liu Q, Zhou L, Song Z, Li J. Effect of ovarian fluid on sperm performance in teleost with internal and external fertilization strategies. Theriogenology 2023; 206:189-196. [PMID: 37229958 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2023.05.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2022] [Revised: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 05/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Ovarian fluid is essential for successful fertilization by maintaining the viability, motility, and velocity of sperm. The organic compounds and inorganic ions in ovarian fluid significantly influence spermatozoa's motility, velocity, and longevity. However, the effect of ovarian fluid on sperm performance is limited in teleost fish. In this study, the effect of ovarian fluid on sperm performance and its components in external fertilization species (Scophthalmus maximus, turbot) and internal fertilization species (Sebastes schlegelii, black rockfish) was investigated using computer-assisted sperm analysis, high-performance liquid chromatography, and metabolome analysis. The ovarian fluid had a distinct and species-specific effect on both species. In the black rockfish, the ovarian fluid from turbot significantly increased sperm motility (74.07% ± 4.09%), as well as VCL (45 ± 1.67 μm/s), VAP (40.17 ± 1.6 μm/s), and VSL (36.67 ± 1.86 μm/s), and longevity (352 ± 11.31 min) (P < 0.05). In the turbot, only the longevity (71.33 ± 5.69 min) and fertilization rate (65.27% ± 11.59%) showed significantly improvement (P < 0.05). The ovarian fluid was rich in organic compounds, suggesting enrichment in the glycolysis/gluconeogenesis pathways. The results suggest that glycometabolism plays a crucial role in improving sperm performance in teleost with internal fertilization. Thus, incorporating ovarian fluid into the sperm activation medium can enhance artificial fertilization in fish breeding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xueying Wang
- CAS and Shandong Province Key Laboratory of Experimental Marine Biology, Center for Ocean Mega-Science, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, China; Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, 266071, China
| | - Qinghua Liu
- CAS and Shandong Province Key Laboratory of Experimental Marine Biology, Center for Ocean Mega-Science, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, China; Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, 266071, China.
| | - Li Zhou
- CAS and Shandong Province Key Laboratory of Experimental Marine Biology, Center for Ocean Mega-Science, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, China; Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, 266071, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Zongcheng Song
- Weihai Shenghang Aquatic Product Science and Technology Co. Ltd., Weihai, China
| | - Jun Li
- CAS and Shandong Province Key Laboratory of Experimental Marine Biology, Center for Ocean Mega-Science, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, China; Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, 266071, China.
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8
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The Use of Ovarian Fluid as Natural Fertilization Medium for Cryopreserved Semen in Mediterranean Brown Trout: The Effects on Sperm Swimming Performance. Vet Sci 2023; 10:vetsci10030219. [PMID: 36977258 PMCID: PMC10051816 DOI: 10.3390/vetsci10030219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2023] [Revised: 03/01/2023] [Accepted: 03/09/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023] Open
Abstract
D-532 fertilization solution is generally used to replace the water or ovarian fluid during artificial reproductive practices in salmonids due to its ability to boost sperm motility and increase fertilization rates compared with natural activation media. However, the maintenance of ovarian fluid in a reproductive microenvironment gives it the advantage of protecting the eggs from potential harmful factors from the external environment and simplifying the field operations related to its removal when D-532 is used alone. In light of this, the aim of the present study was to investigate in vitro, for the first time, the effect of ovarian fluid (OF 100%) on post-thaw sperm swimming performance of Mediterranean trout, comparing it with D-532 and a mixed solution of 50% D-532 and 50% ovarian fluid (OF 50%). The percentage of motile spermatozoa and movement duration was significantly increased in OF 100% and OF 50% compared with D-532. Sperm velocity was higher in D-532, but significant differences were recorded only with OF 100%. In conclusion, these results suggest that the presence of ovarian fluid alone or in combination with D-532 in an artificial microenvironment of reproduction represents a key factor in potentially increasing fertilization success when the frozen semen of Mediterranean brown trout is used.
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Fernlund Isaksson E, Fitzpatrick JL. Examining the potential for resource-dependent female reproductive fluid-sperm interactive effects in a livebearing fish. J Evol Biol 2023; 36:709-719. [PMID: 36891998 DOI: 10.1111/jeb.14166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2022] [Revised: 01/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/17/2023] [Indexed: 03/10/2023]
Abstract
Sexually selected traits can be costly to produce and maintain. The amount of resources available to an individual is therefore expected to influence investment in costly sexual traits. While resource-dependent expression of sexually selected traits has traditionally been examined in males, resource limitation can also influence how sexual selection operates in females. Female reproductive fluids are thought to be costly to produce and may play an important role in shaping the outcome of postcopulatory sexual selection by influencing sperm performance. However, we know surprisingly little about whether and how female reproductive fluids are influenced by resource limitation. Here, we examine if resource restriction influences female reproductive fluid-sperm interactive effects in the pygmy halfbeak (Dermogenys collettei), a small internally fertilizing freshwater fish where females store sperm. After experimentally altering female diets (high vs. restricted diets), we compared how female reproductive fluids influence two key metrics of sperm quality: sperm viability and velocity. While female reproductive fluids enhanced sperm viability and velocity, we found no evidence that female diet influenced the interactive effect between female reproductive fluids and sperm viability or velocity. Our findings build on the growing evidence that female reproductive fluids influence sperm performance and call for further attention to be devoted to understanding how resource quantity and quality influence how female reproductive fluids affect sperm performance.
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Akbari Nargesi E, Falahatkar B. Effects of dietary supplementation of multi-strain probiotics on semen quality, seminal plasma compositions, and fertilization ability of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) broodstock spermatozoa. Theriogenology 2023; 202:1-9. [PMID: 36878033 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2023.02.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2022] [Revised: 02/16/2023] [Accepted: 02/25/2023] [Indexed: 03/03/2023]
Abstract
The present experiment aims to study the effects of dietary multi-strain probiotics on semen quality, seminal plasma compositions, and fertilization ability of male rainbow trout. For this purpose, a total of 48 broodstocks with an average initial weight of 1366.1 ± 33.8 g were divided into 4 groups and 3 replicates. Fish were fed with diets containing 0 (control), 1 × 109 (P1), 2 × 109 (P2), and 4 × 109 (P3) CFU probiotic kg-1 diet for 12 weeks. Results showed that dietary supplementation of probiotics significantly increased plasma testosterone level, motility time of spermatozoa, sperm density, and spermatocrit value in P2 and P3 treatments and Na+ level in P2 treatment compared to the control group (P < 0.05). The activities of aspartate aminotransferase and lactate dehydrogenase had significantly decreased in the P2 treatment compared to the control group (P < 0.05). No considerable variations were observed between control fish and treatment groups (P > 0.05) in semen biochemical parameters, percentage of motile spermatozoa, osmolality, and pH of seminal plasma. Based on the results, the highest fertilization rate (97.2 ± 0.9%) and eyed egg survival (95.7 ± 1.6%) were observed in the P2 treatment, and those values showed remarkable differences with the control group (P < 0.05). The results indicated that multi-strain probiotics have potential efficacy on semen quality and fertilization ability of rainbow trout broodstock spermatozoa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erfan Akbari Nargesi
- Fisheries Department, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Guilan, Sowmeh Sara, P. O. Box 1144, Guilan, Iran
| | - Bahram Falahatkar
- Fisheries Department, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Guilan, Sowmeh Sara, P. O. Box 1144, Guilan, Iran; Department of Marine Sciences, The Caspian Sea Basin Research Center, University of Guilan, Rasht, Guilan, Iran.
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11
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Graziano M, Palit S, Yethiraj A, Immler S, Gage MJG, Purchase CF. Frequency-dependent viscosity of salmon ovarian fluid has biophysical implications for sperm-egg interactions. J Exp Biol 2023; 226:285939. [PMID: 36511132 PMCID: PMC10086386 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.244712] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2022] [Accepted: 12/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Gamete-level sexual selection of externally fertilising species is usually achieved by modifying sperm behaviour with mechanisms that alter the chemical environment in which gametes perform. In fish, this can be accomplished through the ovarian fluid, a substance released with the eggs at spawning. While the biochemical effects of ovarian fluid in relation to sperm energetics have been investigated, the influence of the physical environment in which sperm compete remains poorly explored. Our objective was therefore to gain insights on the physical structure of this fluid and potential impacts on reproduction. Using soft-matter physics approaches of steady-state and oscillatory viscosity measurements, we subjected wild Atlantic salmon ovarian fluids to variable shear stresses and frequencies resembling those exerted by sperm swimming through the fluid near eggs. We show that this fluid, which in its relaxed state is a gel-like substance, displays a non-Newtonian viscoelastic and shear-thinning profile, where the viscosity decreases with increasing shear rates. We concurrently find that this fluid obeys the Cox-Merz rule below 7.6 Hz and infringes it above this level, thus indicating a shear-thickening phase where viscosity increases provided it is probed gently enough. This suggests the presence of a unique frequency-dependent structural network with relevant implications for sperm energetics and fertilisation dynamics. This article has an associated ECR Spotlight interview with Marco Graziano.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Graziano
- Department of Biology, Memorial University, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, A1B 3X9, Canada.,Department of Biological Sciences, Centre for Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation, University of East Anglia, Norwich NR4 7TJ, United Kingdom
| | - Swomitra Palit
- Department of Physics and Physical Oceanography, Soft Matter Lab, Memorial University, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, A1B 3X7, Canada
| | - Anand Yethiraj
- Department of Physics and Physical Oceanography, Soft Matter Lab, Memorial University, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, A1B 3X7, Canada
| | - Simone Immler
- Department of Biological Sciences, Centre for Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation, University of East Anglia, Norwich NR4 7TJ, United Kingdom
| | - Matthew J G Gage
- Department of Biological Sciences, Centre for Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation, University of East Anglia, Norwich NR4 7TJ, United Kingdom.,Deceased
| | - Craig F Purchase
- Department of Biology, Memorial University, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, A1B 3X9, Canada
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Wang WWY, Gunderson AR. The Physiological and Evolutionary Ecology of Sperm Thermal Performance. Front Physiol 2022; 13:754830. [PMID: 35399284 PMCID: PMC8987524 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2022.754830] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2021] [Accepted: 02/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Ongoing anthropogenic climate change has increased attention on the ecological and evolutionary consequences of thermal variation. Most research in this field has focused on the physiology and behavior of diploid whole organisms. The thermal performance of haploid gamete stages directly tied to reproductive success has received comparatively little attention, especially in the context of the evolutionary ecology of wild (i.e., not domesticated) organisms. Here, we review evidence for the effects of temperature on sperm phenotypes, emphasizing data from wild organisms whenever possible. We find that temperature effects on sperm are pervasive, and that above normal temperatures in particular are detrimental. That said, there is evidence that sperm traits can evolve adaptively in response to temperature change, and that adaptive phenotypic plasticity in sperm traits is also possible. We place results in the context of thermal performance curves, and encourage this framework to be used as a guide for experimental design to maximize ecological relevance as well as the comparability of results across studies. We also highlight gaps in our understanding of sperm thermal performance that require attention to more fully understand thermal adaptation and the consequences of global change.
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Does the Rainbow Trout Ovarian Fluid Promote the Spermatozoon on Its Way to the Egg? Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22179519. [PMID: 34502430 PMCID: PMC8430650 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22179519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2021] [Revised: 08/26/2021] [Accepted: 08/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The fertilization of freshwater fish occurs in an environment that may negatively affect the gametes; therefore, the specific mechanisms triggering the encounters of gametes would be highly expedient. The egg and ovarian fluid are likely the major sources of these triggers, which we confirmed here for rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). The ovarian fluid affected significantly spermatozoa performance: it supported high velocity for a longer period and changed the motility pattern from tumbling in water to straightforward moving in the ovarian fluid. Rainbow trout ovarian fluid induced a trapping chemotaxis-like effect on activated male gametes, and this effect depended on the properties of the activating medium. The interaction of the spermatozoa with the attracting agents was accompanied by the "turn-and-run" behavior involving asymmetric flagellar beating and Ca2+ concentration bursts in the bent flagellum segment, which are characteristic of the chemotactic response. Ovarian fluid created the optimal environment for rainbow trout spermatozoa performance, and the individual peculiarities of the egg (ovarian fluid)-sperm interaction reflect the specific features of the spawning process in this species.
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14
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Ibáñez-Arancibia E, Farías JG, Valdebenito I. Use of antioxidants and time of cold storage: effects over viability parameters and enzymatic levels in semen of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss, Walbaum, 1792). BRAZ J BIOL 2021; 83:e245329. [PMID: 34378663 DOI: 10.1590/1519-6984.245329] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2020] [Accepted: 01/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The cold storage of milt implies potentials alterations in its quality because the storage generates as main process, free radicals that produce spermatozoa membrane lipids damage with the consequent motility and fertilising capacity disruptions. To decrease the damage generated by free radicals the cells have antioxidant defences (proteins, enzymes, and low molecular weight substances). The objective of the present study evaluated the time storage effect and different antioxidants prepared in spermatic diluents on sperm viability of O. mykiss milt stored at 4°C. The two-way ANOVA denoted that the time storage and antioxidant influence have significant effects separated or combined on viability parameters (sperm motility and viability, proteins concentrations and superoxide dismutase enzymatic activity in seminal plasma). In contrast, only the storage time affected the fertilising capacity and catalase enzymatic activity in seminal plasma. The resulting analysis can conclude that the antioxidant presence improves the viability of cold stored milt, especially the transport conditions and the antioxidants allow the fecundity despite motility decrease.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Ibáñez-Arancibia
- PhD Program in Sciences mentioning Applied Molecular and Cell Biology, La Frontera University, Temuco, Chile.,Laboratory of Engineering, Biotechnology and Applied Biochemistry - LIBBA, Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Science, La Frontera University, Temuco, Chile.,Department of Agricultural and Aquaculture Sciences, Faculty of Natural Resources, Catholic University of Temuco, Temuco, Chile
| | - J G Farías
- Laboratory of Engineering, Biotechnology and Applied Biochemistry - LIBBA, Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Science, La Frontera University, Temuco, Chile
| | - I Valdebenito
- Department of Agricultural and Aquaculture Sciences, Faculty of Natural Resources, Catholic University of Temuco, Temuco, Chile.,Nucleus of Research in Food Production, Faculty of Natural Resources, Catholic University of Temuco, Temuco, Chile
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15
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Rossi N, Lopez Juri G, Chiaraviglio M, Cardozo G. Oviductal fluid counterbalances the negative effect of high temperature on sperm in an ectotherm model. Biol Open 2021; 10:bio058593. [PMID: 33737294 PMCID: PMC8061905 DOI: 10.1242/bio.058593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2021] [Accepted: 03/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Global warming is affecting biodiversity; however, the extent to which animal reproductive processes respond to predicted temperature increments remains largely unexplored. The thermal environment has a pronounced impact on metabolic rates of ectotherms; therefore, an interesting question to assess is whether temperature increase might affect specific reproductive mechanisms like sperm performance in ectotherms. Moreover, in many species, oviductal fluid (OF) is known to regulate and maintain sperm quality; however, the role of OF in relation to the effects of high temperature on sperm remains unclear. Our aim was to experimentally test the effect of increased temperature on sperm velocity, swimming path and percentage of motility in neutral conditions at ejaculation (without OF) and in female's reproductive tract fluid (with OF), in a social ectotherm lizard model, Tropidurus spinulosus, which has specific thermal requirements for reproduction. Our results suggest that a rising temperature associated with global warming (+4°C) affects negatively sperm dynamics and survival. However, OF ameliorated the harmful effects of high temperature. This is an important point, as this study is the first to have tested the role of OF in preserving sperm from a warmer pre-fertilization environment. These results contribute to our understanding of how thermal environment changes might affect post-copulatory reproductive mechanisms. This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper.
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Affiliation(s)
- N. Rossi
- Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Laboratorio de Biología del Comportamiento, X5000 Córdoba, Argentina
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Instituto de Diversidad y Ecología Animal (IDEA), X5000 Córdoba, Argentina
| | - G. Lopez Juri
- Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Laboratorio de Biología del Comportamiento, X5000 Córdoba, Argentina
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Instituto de Diversidad y Ecología Animal (IDEA), X5000 Córdoba, Argentina
| | - M. Chiaraviglio
- Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Laboratorio de Biología del Comportamiento, X5000 Córdoba, Argentina
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Instituto de Diversidad y Ecología Animal (IDEA), X5000 Córdoba, Argentina
| | - G. Cardozo
- Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Laboratorio de Biología del Comportamiento, X5000 Córdoba, Argentina
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Instituto de Diversidad y Ecología Animal (IDEA), X5000 Córdoba, Argentina
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16
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Johnson SL, Borziak K, Kleffmann T, Rosengrave P, Dorus S, Gemmell NJ. Ovarian fluid proteome variation associates with sperm swimming speed in an externally fertilizing fish. J Evol Biol 2020; 33:1783-1794. [PMID: 33034086 PMCID: PMC7719593 DOI: 10.1111/jeb.13717] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2020] [Revised: 09/02/2020] [Accepted: 09/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Sperm velocity is a key trait that predicts the outcome of sperm competition. By promoting or impeding sperm velocity, females can control fertilization via postcopulatory cryptic female choice. In Chinook salmon, ovarian fluid (OF), which surrounds the ova, mediates sperm velocity according to male and female identity, biasing the outcome of sperm competition towards males with faster sperm. Past investigations have revealed proteome variation in OF, but the specific components of OF that differentially mediate sperm velocity have yet to be characterized. Here we use quantitative proteomics to investigate whether OF protein composition explains variation in sperm velocity and fertilization success. We found that OF proteomes from six females robustly clustered into two groups and that these groups are distinguished by the abundance of a restricted set of proteins significantly associated with sperm velocity. Exposure of sperm to OF from females in group I had faster sperm compared to sperm exposed to the OF of group II females. Overall, OF proteins that distinguished between these groups were enriched for vitellogenin and calcium ion interactions. Our findings suggest that these proteins may form the functional basis for cryptic female choice via the biochemical and physiological mediation of sperm velocity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheri L. Johnson
- Department of Zoology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Kirill Borziak
- Biology Department, Center for Reproductive Evolution, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY, USA
| | - Torsten Kleffmann
- Department of Biochemistry, Centre for Protein Research, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Patrice Rosengrave
- Department of Anatomy, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
- AgResearch, Biocontrol and Biosecurity, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | - Steve Dorus
- Biology Department, Center for Reproductive Evolution, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY, USA
| | - Neil J. Gemmell
- Department of Anatomy, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
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17
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Nowosad J, Kucharczyk D, Sikora M, Kupren K. Optimization of barbel (Barbus Barbus L.) fertilization and effects of ovarian fluid when there are controlled conditions for gamete activations. Anim Reprod Sci 2020; 224:106652. [PMID: 33249355 DOI: 10.1016/j.anireprosci.2020.106652] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2020] [Revised: 11/11/2020] [Accepted: 11/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Fertilization is one of the most important procedures in artificial reproduction and it directly affects the reproduction outcome. When there is optimization of fertilization, there can be a positive effect on subsequent reproductive processes and economic aspects of aquaculture. This study was conducted to determine time for which oocytes and sperm of barbel Barbus barbus retain fertilization capacity following placement in freshwater. Furthermore, the amount of ovarian fluid, excreted by fish during spawning with eggs (OFI; %) was determined, along with the chemical composition and effects on fertilization were determined. Gametes, ovarian fluid, and seminal plasma from barbel spawning specimens of the F4 generation were used to conduct the study. Ovarian fluid accounted for 14%-68% of contents of the mass released at spawning and post-spawning composition differed depending on whether hormonal treatments were utilized for control of reproduction. There was an association (R2 = 0.982; P = 0.000) between the pH of ovarian fluid and the barbel embryo survival rate. There was the greatest survival rate (>60 %) when the pH range of 7.9-8.4 and there was a lesser embryo viability when pH values were lesser or greater than values within this range (P < 0.05). The results from the study indicate that barbel eggs retain fertilization capacity longer (as long as 210 s) after activation by placement in fresh water than spermatozoa (about 30 s).
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanna Nowosad
- Department of Ichthyology and Aquaculture, Faculty of Animal Bioengineering, University of Warmia and Mazury, Olsztyn, Poland.
| | - Dariusz Kucharczyk
- Department of Ichthyology and Aquaculture, Faculty of Animal Bioengineering, University of Warmia and Mazury, Olsztyn, Poland
| | - Mateusz Sikora
- Department of Ichthyology and Aquaculture, Faculty of Animal Bioengineering, University of Warmia and Mazury, Olsztyn, Poland
| | - Krzysztof Kupren
- Department of Ichthyology and Aquaculture, Faculty of Animal Bioengineering, University of Warmia and Mazury, Olsztyn, Poland
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18
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Dittman AH, Quinn TP. Amino acid cues emanating from Pacific salmon eggs and ovarian fluid. JOURNAL OF FISH BIOLOGY 2020; 97:1408-1414. [PMID: 32829515 DOI: 10.1111/jfb.14507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2020] [Revised: 08/03/2020] [Accepted: 08/20/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The eggs of salmonid fishes are an important food source for many aquatic predators that detect eggs using olfaction. Moreover, chemicals from eggs and ovarian fluid aid sperm cells in detecting and locating eggs for fertilization, and ovarian fluid is attractive to conspecific males. Thus chemicals from eggs and ovarian fluid may facilitate reproduction but may also attract egg predators. The authors sampled mature females of three Pacific salmon species - Chinook (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha), coho (Oncorhynchus kisutch) and sockeye (Oncorhynchus nerka) - and determined the proportional representation of amino acids, potent fish odorants, from their eggs and ovarian fluid (Chinook and coho salmon only). They then tested juvenile coho salmon, an egg predator, for responses to ovarian fluid and egg odours using the electro-olfactogram (EOG) recording technique. The amino acid compositions of the salmon species were significantly and positively correlated with each other, and the interspecific differences were comparable to those between individuals of the same species. The egg water samples were, on average, dominated by lysine, alanine and glutamine (12.6%, 12.4% and 10.9%, respectively). The ovarian fluid samples were dominated by lysine (20.5%), followed by threonine (9.7%), glycine (9.2%) and arginine (8.8%). EOG recordings demonstrated the ability of juvenile coho salmon to detect the chemical traces of eggs and ovarian fluid. It is concluded that salmon eggs are a potent source of odours for potential predators but likely not highly differentiated among salmon species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew H Dittman
- Environmental and Fisheries Sciences Division, Northwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Thomas P Quinn
- School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
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19
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Locatello L, Rigoni G, Soriano ME, Rasotto MB, Poli F. Going beyond conventional parameters to unveil sperm quality in fish: the use of fibre optic technology to assess mitochondrial respiratory performance. Biol Open 2020; 9:bio053306. [PMID: 32694190 PMCID: PMC7406323 DOI: 10.1242/bio.053306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2020] [Accepted: 07/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Sperm fertilisation success depends on both intrinsic quality and the interactions with the surrounding reproductive fluids. In several fish species, these interactions have a variable effect on sperm performance. Although specific responses to reproductive fluids may depend on intrinsic differences in sperm quality, variations in the traditionally recorded sperm functional traits do not fully account for the observed patterns. New methods to enhance the evaluation of sperm quality may prove to be valuable at both applied and theoretical levels, by improving the breeding protocol of reared species and the understanding of mating success in sperm competition contexts. Here we develop a fibre optic-based technique, also adequate for small ejaculate samples, to test the role of mitochondrial respiratory efficiency in deciphering sperm performance variability. We purposely used as model the grass goby, Zosterisessor ophiocephalus, a fish with guard-sneaker mating tactics where the sperm in each male tactic have similar intrinsic qualities (velocity, viability, ATP content), but sneakers' sperm exploit territorial males' seminal fuid, overall displaying better fertilization ability. We found that sperm differed in their mitochondrial respiratory efficiency, which was higher in sneakers' sperm compared to territorial ones. This result draws the attention to an indicator of sperm quality that might be helpful in disentangling the mechanisms driving sperm-reproductive fluid interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Locatello
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, Via Ugo Bassi 58/b, 35121 Padova, Italy
| | - Giovanni Rigoni
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, Via Ugo Bassi 58/b, 35121 Padova, Italy
| | - Maria E Soriano
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, Via Ugo Bassi 58/b, 35121 Padova, Italy
| | - Maria B Rasotto
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, Via Ugo Bassi 58/b, 35121 Padova, Italy
| | - Federica Poli
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, Via Ugo Bassi 58/b, 35121 Padova, Italy
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20
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Pitnick S, Wolfner MF, Dorus S. Post-ejaculatory modifications to sperm (PEMS). Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2020; 95:365-392. [PMID: 31737992 PMCID: PMC7643048 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2019] [Revised: 10/12/2019] [Accepted: 10/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Mammalian sperm must spend a minimum period of time within a female reproductive tract to achieve the capacity to fertilize oocytes. This phenomenon, termed sperm 'capacitation', was discovered nearly seven decades ago and opened a window into the complexities of sperm-female interaction. Capacitation is most commonly used to refer to a specific combination of processes that are believed to be widespread in mammals and includes modifications to the sperm plasma membrane, elevation of intracellular cyclic AMP levels, induction of protein tyrosine phosphorylation, increased intracellular Ca2+ levels, hyperactivation of motility, and, eventually, the acrosome reaction. Capacitation is only one example of post-ejaculatory modifications to sperm (PEMS) that are widespread throughout the animal kingdom. Although PEMS are less well studied in non-mammalian taxa, they likely represent the rule rather than the exception in species with internal fertilization. These PEMS are diverse in form and collectively represent the outcome of selection fashioning complex maturational trajectories of sperm that include multiple, sequential phenotypes that are specialized for stage-specific functionality within the female. In many cases, PEMS are critical for sperm to migrate successfully through the female reproductive tract, survive a protracted period of storage, reach the site of fertilization and/or achieve the capacity to fertilize eggs. We predict that PEMS will exhibit widespread phenotypic plasticity mediated by sperm-female interactions. The successful execution of PEMS thus has important implications for variation in fitness and the operation of post-copulatory sexual selection. Furthermore, it may provide a widespread mechanism of reproductive isolation and the maintenance of species boundaries. Despite their possible ubiquity and importance, the investigation of PEMS has been largely descriptive, lacking any phylogenetic consideration with regard to divergence, and there have been no theoretical or empirical investigations of their evolutionary significance. Here, we (i) clarify PEMS-related nomenclature; (ii) address the evolutionary origin, maintenance and divergence in PEMS in the context of the protracted life history of sperm and the complex, selective environment of the female reproductive tract; (iii) describe taxonomically widespread types of PEMS: sperm activation, chemotaxis and the dissociation of sperm conjugates; (iv) review the occurence of PEMS throughout the animal kingdom; (v) consider alternative hypotheses for the adaptive value of PEMS; (vi) speculate on the evolutionary implications of PEMS for genomic architecture, sexual selection, and reproductive isolation; and (vii) suggest fruitful directions for future functional and evolutionary analyses of PEMS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Scott Pitnick
- Department of Biology, Center for Reproductive Evolution, Syacuse University, Syracuse, NY 13244, USA
| | - Mariana F. Wolfner
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Steve Dorus
- Department of Biology, Center for Reproductive Evolution, Syacuse University, Syracuse, NY 13244, USA
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21
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Myers JN, Bradford AJ, Hallas VS, Lawson LL, Pitcher TE, Dunham RA, Butts IAE. Channel catfish ovarian fluid differentially enhances blue catfish sperm performance. Theriogenology 2020; 149:62-71. [PMID: 32247214 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2020.03.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2019] [Revised: 02/24/2020] [Accepted: 03/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
For externally fertilizing fishes, interactions between male and female gametes have been shown to have remarkable impacts on sperm performance. Ovarian fluid (OF) and its ability to alter the swimming behavior of fish sperm makes it a determining factor of fertility. With the expansion of channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) ♀ × blue catfish (Ictalurus furcatus) ♂ hybrid aquaculture, it is essential to understand the impacts during fertilization and the magnitude such gametic interactions have on sperm performance and subsequent male fertility potential. This study was conducted to address the following: 1) activate blue catfish sperm with/without channel catfish OF to determine impacts on sperm performance and 2) assess if sperm behave differently when activated in the OF from individual females. Sperm (n = 4 males) were activated without OF (control) and with diluted OF from unique females (n = 6), creating 24 experimental crosses. Sperm motility (%), velocity (VCL), and longevity were analyzed using computer assisted sperm analyses software. With OF incorporated in the activation media, sperm velocity was significantly higher than the control at 10, 20, and 30 s post-activation. OF did not have an impact on motility for any females at 10 s and 20 s post-activation but became significantly higher than the control at 30 s. In all cases, OF treatments greatly increased longevity. Male × female interactions were highly significant, such that motility, velocity, and longevity were dependent on specific male-female pairs. This information shows that OF should be incorporated in aquatic media to simulate natural spawning conditions and accurately assess the fluid mechanics of sperm propulsion for each male. Additionally, there are mechanisms that drive gamete interactions that need to be explored further, which may improve selection of male-female pairs for in-vitro fertilization. On a broad scale, our results also help to shed light on the complexities of fertilization and fish reproduction overall, which may have implications for recruitment variability and recovery strategies of threatened and/or endangered freshwater species.
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Affiliation(s)
- J N Myers
- School of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Aquatic Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, 36849, USA.
| | - A J Bradford
- School of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Aquatic Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, 36849, USA.
| | - V S Hallas
- School of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Aquatic Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, 36849, USA.
| | - L L Lawson
- School of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Aquatic Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, 36849, USA.
| | - T E Pitcher
- Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research, University of Windsor, Windsor, ON N9B 3P4, Canada; Department of Biological Sciences, University of Windsor, Windsor, ON N9B 3P4, Canada.
| | - R A Dunham
- School of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Aquatic Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, 36849, USA.
| | - I A E Butts
- School of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Aquatic Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, 36849, USA.
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22
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Lodé T. A brief natural history of the orgasm. ALL LIFE 2019. [DOI: 10.1080/21553769.2019.1664642] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Thierry Lodé
- Laboratoire d’Éthologie Animale et Humaine EthoS–UMR-CNRS 6552, Université de Rennes 1, Rennes, France
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23
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Poli F, Immler S, Gasparini C. Effects of ovarian fluid on sperm traits and its implications for cryptic female choice in zebrafish. Behav Ecol 2019. [DOI: 10.1093/beheco/arz077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
AbstractIn polyandrous mating systems, females maintain the opportunity to bias male fertilization success after mating in a process known as cryptic female choice. Mechanisms of cryptic female choice have been described both in internal and external fertilizers, and may affect fertilization processes at different stages before, during, and after fertilization. In internal fertilizers, females have substantial control over sperm storage and fertilization, whereas in external fertilizers, female control is limited. A key factor proposed to mediate cryptic female choice is the fluid surrounding the eggs, the ovarian fluid, as it may directly affect sperm performance. Here, we studied the role of ovarian fluid in post-mating sexual selection using the zebrafish, Danio rerio. Firstly, we assessed how ovarian fluid affects sperm swimming performance compared with freshwater. We focused on sperm motility, velocity, swimming trajectory, and longevity, all traits associated with competitive fertilization success in externally fertilizing fish. In a second step, we used a North Carolina II design to explore female, male, and female x male effects by testing sperm motility of 2 males in the ovarian fluid of 2 females in a total of 11 blocks. Our results indicate that the ovarian fluid affects sperm performance differently from freshwater. Specifically, sperm velocity, motility, and longevity were higher in the ovarian fluid than in freshwater, whereas sperm linearity and beat cross frequency showed the opposite pattern. Moreover, these effects varied according to male, female, and male x female identities, supporting the potential for cryptic female choice mediated by ovarian fluid in this species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federica Poli
- Centre for Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Australia
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Simone Immler
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, UK
| | - Clelia Gasparini
- Centre for Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Australia
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
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24
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Cardozo G, Pilastro A. Female nutritional condition affects ovarian fluid quality in guppies. Biol Lett 2019; 14:rsbl.2018.0122. [PMID: 29848779 DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2018.0122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2018] [Accepted: 05/04/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Male and female gametes are often embedded in fluids that are produced by gonads and other reproductive tissues. Female reproductive fluids, usually called ovarian fluid (OF), which often constitute a relevant volumetric component of the egg mass, are rich in ions, sugars and proteins, and are involved in several functions, from protecting gametes to facilitating fertilization, and often act as mediators of post-mating sexual selection. Despite their applied and evolutionary importance, we know virtually nothing about the costs of female reproductive fluid production. We investigated the effect of nutritional condition on OF quality by experimentally manipulating the diet of two groups of female guppies (Poecilia reticulata) which were maintained for 20 days either on a restricted diet or had ad libitum access to food. In this species, OF enhances sperm swimming longevity and velocity (a predictor of sperm competition success) and mediates post-copulatory inbreeding avoidance. We found that sperm velocity was significantly lower in the OF of diet-restricted females, indicating that OF quality is dependent on female nutritional condition. Our results demonstrate that OF represents a non-trivial component of female reproductive investment and provides a tool to investigate which OF constituents are involved in modulating OF-sperm interactions and fertilization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriela Cardozo
- Dipartimento di Biologia, Università di Padova, Padova, Italy.,Laboratorio de Biología del Comportamiento, Instituto de Diversidad y Ecología Animal (IDEA), CONICET-UNC and Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Andrea Pilastro
- Dipartimento di Biologia, Università di Padova, Padova, Italy
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25
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Zadmajid V, Myers JN, Sørensen SR, Ernest Butts IA. Ovarian fluid and its impacts on spermatozoa performance in fish: A review. Theriogenology 2019; 132:144-152. [PMID: 31022604 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2019.03.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2019] [Accepted: 03/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Factors such as gamete quality can profoundly affect fertility, but the spawning micro-environment that surrounds the spermatozoa and eggs during gamete contact has largely been neglected. In fishes, understanding these gametic interactions is crucial because each female creates a unique spawning environment by simultaneously expelling her distinct ovarian fluid (OF) along with an egg batch. In turn, OF has been shown to influence spermatozoa performance traits by modifying spermatozoa behaviors and fertilization outcomes. Here, we shed light on these gametic interactions by overviewing literature on OF and how it impacts spermatozoa performance traits. Fish OF is clear or has slight coloration and can constitute ≤10-30% of egg mass. Viscosity of the OF is ∼2- to 3-fold higher than water and its pH ranges 6.2 to 8.8. Osmolality of the OF is lower in freshwater (190-322 mOsmol/kg) than marine species (289-514 mOsmol/kg). Na+ (98.3-213.7 mmol/L) and Cl- (89.8-172.7 mmol/L) are predominant ions in OF, while K+ (1.7-19.3 mmol/L), Mg2+ (0.4-8.1 mmol/L), and Ca2+(0.5-9.7 mmol/L) ions are detected at lower concentrations. Protein levels can be high in OF and exhibit intra- and inter-species variation (54-826 mg/100 mL). Fish OF also contains a series of organic components and substances that enhance and/or attract sperm towards the vicinity of an egg. OF can also differentially impact sperm based on genetic relatedness of mates, male phenotype (i.e. alternative reproductive tactics), or geographic origin. To conclude, when testing further reproductive paradigms, we suggest a shift from classic spermatozoa activation medium (water only) to more natural spawning media, which encompass OF-spermatozoa interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vahid Zadmajid
- Department of Fisheries Science, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Kurdistan, P.O. Box 416, Sanandaj, Iran
| | - Jaelen Nicole Myers
- School of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Aquatic Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, United States
| | - Sune Riis Sørensen
- National Institute of Aquatic Resources, Technical University of Denmark, Kgs., Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Ian Anthony Ernest Butts
- School of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Aquatic Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, United States.
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26
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Poli F, Locatello L, Rasotto MB. Seminal fluid enhances competitiveness of territorial males' sperm in a fish with alternative male reproductive tactics. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2018; 221:jeb.175976. [PMID: 29844197 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.175976] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2017] [Accepted: 05/22/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
The most common adaptation to sperm competition in males is represented by an increase in the sperm number and/or quality released at mating, to raise their probability of egg fertilization. However, rapidly mounting evidence highlights that seminal fluid may directly influence the competitive fertilization success of a male by affecting either own and/or rival sperm performance. In the black goby, Gobius niger, an external fertilizer with guard-sneaker mating tactics and high sperm competition level, sneaker ejaculates contain less seminal fluid and more sperm, that are also of better quality, than those of territorial males. However, territorial males gain a higher paternity success inside natural nests. Here, we ask whether the seminal fluid can contribute to the reproductive success of territorial males by enhancing their sperm performance and/or by decreasing that of sneaker males. Using sperm and seminal fluid manipulation and in vitro fertilization tests, we found that own seminal fluid influences the velocity and fertilization ability of sperm only in territorial males, making them as fast as those of sneakers and with a similar fertilization rate. Moreover, both sneaker and territorial sperm remain unaffected by the seminal fluid of rival males. Thus, black goby males respond to the different level of sperm competition faced by differential allocation of sperm and non-sperm components of the ejaculate, with sneakers primarily investing in sperm of intrinsic high quality and territorial males relying on the effect of seminal fluid to increase the lower intrinsic quality of their sperm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federica Poli
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, Via U. Bassi 58/b, 35121 Padova, Italy
| | - Lisa Locatello
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, Via U. Bassi 58/b, 35121 Padova, Italy
| | - Maria B Rasotto
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, Via U. Bassi 58/b, 35121 Padova, Italy
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Seasonal and age-related changes in semen characteristics and composition of seminal plasma in sex-reverse female rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) in comparison with normal males. Anim Reprod Sci 2018; 196:160-167. [PMID: 30077522 DOI: 10.1016/j.anireprosci.2018.07.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2018] [Revised: 07/05/2018] [Accepted: 07/27/2018] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
All-male or all-female progeny is preferable in reproduction of fish species. In rainbow trout, all-female progeny is desirable, and the most common and healthful approach is to use sex reversed (SR) females as broodstock by including androgen hormones through the diet at the larval stage. The purpose of this study was to determine the differences and changes of seminal plasma ions (Na+, K+, Ca2+, Mg2+ and Cl-) and pH in 2 to 3 and 3 to 4 year-old SR females, compared with 2 to 3 year-old normal (N) males at the beginning, middle, and end of the spawning season (SS). Additionally, osmolality, spermatozoa concentration, and sperm motility characteristics were determined. Percentages of sperm motility of SR females were negatively correlated with seminal plasma pH and sperm concentrations (r = -0.479 and r = -0.534, respectively, P < 0.05). Seminal plasma pH (7.14 ± 0.05 to 7.40 ± 0.10) in SR females was less than for N males (7.66 ± 0.10 to 8.04 ± 0.10) at all periods of the SS (P < 0.05). The Ca2+ concentrations in the mid-SS were 0.74 ± 0.23 mM in N males, 1.09 ± 0.29 mM in 2 to 3 year-old SR females, and 0.83 ± 0.29 in 2 to 3 year-old SR females, without significant differences (P > 0.05). Furthermore, using of 2 to 3 year-old rather than 3 to 4 year-old SR females for reproduction could provide an advantage in terms of sperm motility characteristics. These findings could be useful for not only understanding of SR of semen from sexually reversed females but also for design of a maturation medium both for further studies and aquaculture production.
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Kekäläinen J, Evans JP. Gamete-mediated mate choice: towards a more inclusive view of sexual selection. Proc Biol Sci 2018; 285:20180836. [PMID: 30051836 PMCID: PMC6083266 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2018.0836] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2018] [Accepted: 06/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
'Sperm competition'-where ejaculates from two or more males compete for fertilization-and 'cryptic female choice'-where females bias this contest to suit their reproductive interests-are now part of the everyday lexicon of sexual selection. Yet the physiological processes that underlie these post-ejaculatory episodes of sexual selection remain largely enigmatic. In this review, we focus on a range of post-ejaculatory cellular- and molecular-level processes, known to be fundamental for fertilization across most (if not all) sexually reproducing species, and point to their putative role in facilitating sexual selection at the level of the cells and gametes, called 'gamete-mediated mate choice' (GMMC). In this way, we collate accumulated evidence for GMMC across different mating systems, and emphasize the evolutionary significance of such non-random interactions among gametes. Our overall aim in this review is to build a more inclusive view of sexual selection by showing that mate choice often acts in more nuanced ways than has traditionally been assumed. We also aim to bridge the conceptual divide between proximal mechanisms of reproduction, and adaptive explanations for patterns of non-random sperm-egg interactions that are emerging across an increasingly diverse array of taxa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jukka Kekäläinen
- Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Joensuu, Finland
| | - Jonathan P Evans
- Centre for Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia
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Lymbery RA, Kennington WJ, Evans JP. Multivariate Sexual Selection on Ejaculate Traits under Sperm Competition. Am Nat 2018; 192:94-104. [DOI: 10.1086/697447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
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Dziewulska K, Pilarska M. Inhibitory effect of K+ ions and influence of other ions and osmolality on the spermatozoa motility of European burbot (Lota lota L.). PLoS One 2018; 13:e0196415. [PMID: 29768446 PMCID: PMC5955499 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0196415] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2017] [Accepted: 04/12/2018] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background In fish with external fertilization, two main start-up mechanisms of the path that blocks or activates the spermatozoan motility apparatus are known. The main factor managing the path is osmolality or potassium ion. In burbot from the European and North American population, contradictory findings regarding the factors influencing the onset of spermatozoa motility were reported. The objective of the current study was to determine the effect of potassium and osmolality on the spermatozoa activation of European burbot, Lota lota (Actinopterygii, Gadiformes, Lotidae). Moreover, the influence of pH, as well as sodium ion concentrations on spermatozoa motility was investigated. Seven parameters characterising motility were traced by means of computer-assisted sperm analysis (CASA). Principal findings The spermatozoa of European burbot are K+ ion-sensitive. A 6-mM KCl solution significantly decreased motility, and above 12-mM (50 mOsm kg-1) totally ceased spermatozoa movement. Sucrose and Na+ solutions inhibited spermatozoa movement only at concentrations > 450–480 mOsm kg-1. Greater differences in the percentage of motile sperm between individuals were noted in solutions containing high concentrations of chemicals triggering sperm motility. The optimum osmolality for spermatozoa motility is in the range of 100–200 mOsm kg-1. The burbot spermatozoa were motile over a wide range of pH values with the best activation at pH 9. Conclusion It was demonstrated that the spermatozoa of European burbot are inhibited by K+ ions similarly as in North American burbot. Other electrolyte and non-electrolyte solutions inhibit spermatozoa movement only if their osmolality is greater than that of the physiological osmolality of seminal plasma. The data provided on basic knowledge of burbot spermatozoa allow to ensure appropriate conditions during artificial reproduction and scientific research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katarzyna Dziewulska
- Department of General Zoology, Faculty of Biology, University of Szczecin, Szczecin, Poland
- Centre of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, University of Szczecin, Szczecin, Poland
- * E-mail:
| | - Malwina Pilarska
- Department of General Zoology, Faculty of Biology, University of Szczecin, Szczecin, Poland
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31
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Butts IAE, Prokopchuk G, Kašpar V, Cosson J, Pitcher TE. Ovarian fluid impacts flagellar beating and biomechanical metrics of sperm between alternative reproductive tactics. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2018; 220:2210-2217. [PMID: 28615489 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.154195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2016] [Accepted: 04/04/2017] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Alternative reproductive tactics (ARTs) are prevalent in nature, where smaller parasitic males typically have better sperm quality than larger territorial guard males. At present, it is unclear what is causing this phenomenon. Our objective was to gain insights into sperm form and function by examining flagellar beating patterns (beat frequency, wave amplitude, bend length, bend angle, wave velocity) and biomechanical sperm metrics (velocity, hydrodynamic power output, propulsive efficiency) of wild spawning Chinook salmon ARTs. Ovarian fluid and milt were collected to form a series of eight experimental blocks, each composed of ovarian fluid from a unique female and sperm from a unique pair of parasitic jack and guard hooknose males. Sperm from each ART were activated in river water and ovarian fluid. Flagellar parameters were evaluated from recordings using high-speed video microscopy and biomechanical metrics were quantified. We show that ART has an impact on flagellar beating, where jacks had a higher bend length and bend angle than hooknoses. Activation media also impacted the pattern of flagellar parameters, such that beat frequency, wave velocity and bend angle declined, while wave amplitude of flagella increased when ovarian fluid was incorporated into activation media. Furthermore, we found that sperm from jacks swam faster than those from hooknoses and required less hydrodynamic power output to propel themselves in river water and ovarian fluid. Jack sperm were also more efficient at swimming than hooknose sperm, and propulsive efficiency increased when cells were activated in ovarian fluid. The results demonstrate that sperm biomechanics may be driving divergence in competitive reproductive success between ARTs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ian A E Butts
- School of Fisheries, Aquaculture, and Aquatic Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA
| | - Galina Prokopchuk
- Biology Centre, Institute of Parasitology, Czech Academy of Sciences, České Budějovice 370 05, Czech Republic
| | - Vojtěch Kašpar
- University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, Faculty of Fisheries and Protection of Waters, South Bohemian Research Center of Aquaculture and Biodiversity of Hydrocenoses, Research Institute of Fish Culture and Hydrobiology, Vodnany 38925, Czech Republic
| | - Jacky Cosson
- University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, Faculty of Fisheries and Protection of Waters, South Bohemian Research Center of Aquaculture and Biodiversity of Hydrocenoses, Research Institute of Fish Culture and Hydrobiology, Vodnany 38925, Czech Republic
| | - Trevor E Pitcher
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Windsor, Windsor, ON, Canada N9B 3P4.,Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research, University of Windsor, Windsor, ON, Canada N9B 3P4
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Bartlett MJ, Steeves TE, Gemmell NJ, Rosengrave PC. Sperm competition risk drives rapid ejaculate adjustments mediated by seminal fluid. eLife 2017; 6:e28811. [PMID: 29084621 PMCID: PMC5669631 DOI: 10.7554/elife.28811] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2017] [Accepted: 09/13/2017] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
In many species, males can make rapid adjustments to ejaculate performance in response to sperm competition risk; however, the mechanisms behind these changes are not understood. Here, we manipulate male social status in an externally fertilising fish, chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha), and find that in less than 48 hr, males can upregulate sperm velocity when faced with an increased risk of sperm competition. Using a series of in vitro sperm manipulation and competition experiments, we show that rapid changes in sperm velocity are mediated by seminal fluid and the effect of seminal fluid on sperm velocity directly impacts paternity share and therefore reproductive success. These combined findings, completely consistent with sperm competition theory, provide unequivocal evidence that sperm competition risk drives plastic adjustment of ejaculate quality, that seminal fluid harbours the mechanism for the rapid adjustment of sperm velocity and that fitness benefits accrue to males from such adjustment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael J Bartlett
- School of Biological SciencesUniversity of CanterburyChristchurchNew Zealand
| | - Tammy E Steeves
- School of Biological SciencesUniversity of CanterburyChristchurchNew Zealand
| | - Neil J Gemmell
- Department of AnatomyUniversity of OtagoDunedinNew Zealand
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Lehnert SJ, Butts IAE, Flannery EW, Peters KM, Heath DD, Pitcher TE. Effects of ovarian fluid and genetic differences on sperm performance and fertilization success of alternative reproductive tactics in Chinook salmon. J Evol Biol 2017; 30:1236-1245. [PMID: 28387056 DOI: 10.1111/jeb.13088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2016] [Revised: 03/03/2017] [Accepted: 03/30/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
In many species, sperm velocity affects variation in the outcome of male competitive fertilization success. In fishes, ovarian fluid (OF) released with the eggs can increase male sperm velocity and potentially facilitate cryptic female choice for males of specific phenotypes and/or genotypes. Therefore, to investigate the effect of OF on fertilization success, we measured sperm velocity and conducted in vitro competitive fertilizations with paired Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) males representing two alternative reproductive tactics, jacks (small sneaker males) and hooknoses (large guarding males), in the presence of river water alone and OF mixed with river water. To determine the effect of genetic differences on fertilization success, we genotyped fish at neutral (microsatellites) and functional [major histocompatibility complex (MHC) II ß1] markers. We found that when sperm were competed in river water, jacks sired significantly more offspring than hooknoses; however, in OF, there was no difference in paternity between the tactics. Sperm velocity was significantly correlated with paternity success in river water, but not in ovarian fluid. Paternity success in OF, but not in river water alone, was correlated with genetic relatedness between male and female, where males that were less related to the female attained greater paternity. We found no relationship between MHC II ß1 divergence between mates and paternity success in water or OF. Our results indicate that OF can influence the outcome of sperm competition in Chinook salmon, where OF provides both male tactics with fertilization opportunities, which may in part explain what maintains both tactics in nature.
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Affiliation(s)
- S J Lehnert
- Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research, University of Windsor, Windsor, ON, Canada
| | - I A E Butts
- School of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Aquatic Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USA
| | - E W Flannery
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Windsor, Windsor, ON, Canada
| | - K M Peters
- Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research, University of Windsor, Windsor, ON, Canada.,Department of Biological Sciences, University of Windsor, Windsor, ON, Canada
| | - D D Heath
- Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research, University of Windsor, Windsor, ON, Canada.,Department of Biological Sciences, University of Windsor, Windsor, ON, Canada
| | - T E Pitcher
- Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research, University of Windsor, Windsor, ON, Canada.,Department of Biological Sciences, University of Windsor, Windsor, ON, Canada
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Nynca J, Arnold GJ, Fröhlich T, Ciereszko A. Shotgun proteomics of rainbow trout ovarian fluid. Reprod Fertil Dev 2017; 27:504-12. [PMID: 25482144 DOI: 10.1071/rd13224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2013] [Accepted: 12/18/2013] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
In the present study we used a shotgun proteomic approach to identify 54 proteins of rainbow trout ovarian fluid. The study has unravelled the identity of several proteins not previously reported in fish ovarian fluid. The proteome of trout ovarian fluid consists of diverse proteins participating in lipid binding and metabolism, carbohydrate and ion transport, innate immunity, maturation and ovulation processes. Most trout ovarian fluid proteins correspond to follicular fluid proteins of higher vertebrates, but 15% of the proteins were found to be different, such as those related to the immune system (precerebellin-like protein), proteolysis (myeloid cell lineage chitinase), carbohydrate and lipid binding and metabolism (vitellogenins), cell structure and shape (vitelline envelope protein gamma) and a protein with unknown functions (UPF0762 protein C6orf58 homologue). The present study could help in the decoding of the biological function of these proteins and in the discovery of potential biomarkers of oocyte quality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanna Nynca
- Department of Gametes and Embryo Biology, Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research, Polish Academy of Sciences, Tuwima 10, 10-748 Olsztyn, Poland
| | - Georg J Arnold
- Laboratory for Functional Genome Analysis (LAFUGA), Gene Center and Department of Biochemistry, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Feodor Lynen Str. 25, 81377 Munich, Germany
| | - Thomas Fröhlich
- Laboratory for Functional Genome Analysis (LAFUGA), Gene Center and Department of Biochemistry, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Feodor Lynen Str. 25, 81377 Munich, Germany
| | - Andrzej Ciereszko
- Department of Gametes and Embryo Biology, Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research, Polish Academy of Sciences, Tuwima 10, 10-748 Olsztyn, Poland
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35
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Fatsini E, Carazo I, Chauvigné F, Manchado M, Cerdà J, Hubbard PC, Duncan NJ. Olfactory sensitivity of the marine flatfish Solea senegalensis to conspecific body fluids. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2017; 220:2057-2065. [PMID: 28348043 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.150318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2016] [Accepted: 03/21/2017] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Chemical communication is better understood in freshwater fish than marine fish. The Senegalese sole (Solea senegalensis) is a marine flatfish wherein one of the problems in aquaculture is the poor reproductive performance of hatchery-bred males. Is chemical communication involved in the reproduction of this species? Urine, intestinal fluid and mucus samples were taken from adult fish (wild-caught and hatchery-bred) over the spawning season (March-May), and assessed for olfactory potency using the electro-olfactogram (EOG). The effect of stimulation of the olfactory system with adult female urine on circulating luteinizing hormone (LH) levels was also tested in males. Intestinal fluid and urine were potent olfactory stimuli for both juvenile and adult conspecifics, evoking large-amplitude, concentration-dependent EOG responses, with thresholds of detection at approximately 1:106 However, the amplitude of the response to urine depended on the sex and state of maturity of both the donor and the receiver. Most olfactory activity could be extracted by C18 solid-phase cartridges. Urine from mature females evoked a slight, but significant, increase in circulating LH levels in mature males 30 min after exposure. Furthermore, the olfactory potency of urine differed between wild-caught and hatchery-bred fish; however, contrary to expectations, urine from wild-caught females was less potent than that from hatchery-bred females. Taken together, these results strongly suggest that faeces- and urine-released odorants are involved in reproduction in the Senegalese sole, and establish a basis for further investigation into pheromonal communication in marine teleosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elvira Fatsini
- IRTA Sant Carles de la Ràpita Crta, De Poble Nou km. 5.5 (43540) Sant Carles de la Ràpita, Tarragona, Spain
| | - Ignacio Carazo
- IRTA Sant Carles de la Ràpita Crta, De Poble Nou km. 5.5 (43540) Sant Carles de la Ràpita, Tarragona, Spain
| | - François Chauvigné
- IRTA-Institut de Ciències del Mar, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Barcelona 08003, Spain
| | - Manuel Manchado
- IFAPA Centro El Toruño, Junta de Andalucía, Camino Tiro Pichón s/n, 11500 El Puerto Santa María, Cádiz, Spain
| | - Joan Cerdà
- IRTA-Institut de Ciències del Mar, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Barcelona 08003, Spain
| | - Peter C Hubbard
- Centre of Marine Sciences (CCMAR), Universidade do Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, Faro 8005-139, Portugal
| | - Neil J Duncan
- IRTA Sant Carles de la Ràpita Crta, De Poble Nou km. 5.5 (43540) Sant Carles de la Ràpita, Tarragona, Spain
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36
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Makiguchi Y, Torao M, Kojima T, Pitcher TE. Reproductive investment patterns and comparison of sperm quality in the presence and absence of ovarian fluid in alternative reproductive tactics of masu salmon, Oncorhynchus masou. Theriogenology 2016; 86:2189-2193.e2. [DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2016.07.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2016] [Revised: 06/13/2016] [Accepted: 07/10/2016] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
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Siddique MAM, Linhart O, Kujawa R, Krejszeff S, Butts IAE. Composition of seminal plasma and ovarian fluid in IdeLeuciscus idusand Northern pikeEsox lucius. Reprod Domest Anim 2016; 51:960-969. [DOI: 10.1111/rda.12773] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2016] [Accepted: 08/02/2016] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- MAM Siddique
- Faculty of Fisheries and Protection of Waters; University of South Bohemia in Ceske Budejovice; South Bohemian Research Center of Aquaculture and Biodiversity of Hydrocenoses; Research Institute of Fish Culture and Hydrobiology; Vodňany Czech Republic
| | - O Linhart
- Faculty of Fisheries and Protection of Waters; University of South Bohemia in Ceske Budejovice; South Bohemian Research Center of Aquaculture and Biodiversity of Hydrocenoses; Research Institute of Fish Culture and Hydrobiology; Vodňany Czech Republic
| | - R Kujawa
- Department of Lake and River Fisheries; Warmia and Mazury University; Olsztyn Poland
| | - S Krejszeff
- Department of Lake and River Fisheries; Warmia and Mazury University; Olsztyn Poland
| | - IAE Butts
- DTU Aqua-National Institute of Aquatic Resources; Section for Marine Ecology and Oceanography; Technical University of Denmark; Charlottenlund Denmark
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Alonzo SH, Stiver KA, Marsh-Rollo SE. Ovarian fluid allows directional cryptic female choice despite external fertilization. Nat Commun 2016; 7:12452. [PMID: 27529581 PMCID: PMC4990696 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms12452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2015] [Accepted: 07/04/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
In species with internal fertilization, females can favour certain males over others, not only before mating but also within the female's reproductive tract after mating. Here, we ask whether such directional post-mating (that is, cryptic) female mate choice can also occur in species with external fertilization. Using an in vitro sperm competition experiment, we demonstrate that female ovarian fluid (ovarian fluid) changes the outcome of sperm competition by decreasing the importance of sperm number thereby increasing the relative importance of sperm velocity. We further show that ovarian fluid does not differentially affect sperm from alternative male phenotypes, but generally enhances sperm velocity, motility, straightness and chemoattraction. Under natural conditions, female ovarian fluid likely increases the paternity of the preferred parental male phenotype, as these males release fewer but faster sperm. These results imply females have greater control over fertilization and potential to exert selection on males in species with external fertilization than previously thought possible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suzanne H. Alonzo
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale University, 165 Prospect Street, New Haven, Connecticut 06520, USA
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California Santa Cruz, 1156 High Street, Santa Cruz, California 95064, USA
| | - Kelly A. Stiver
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale University, 165 Prospect Street, New Haven, Connecticut 06520, USA
- Psychology Department, Southern Connecticut State University, 501 Crescent Street, New Haven, Connecticut 06515, USA
| | - Susan E. Marsh-Rollo
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California Santa Cruz, 1156 High Street, Santa Cruz, California 95064, USA
- Department of Psychology, Neuroscience, and Behaviour, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street W, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada L8S4K1
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Bah CSF, Bekhit AEDA, Fang EF, Ng TB, McConnell MA, Bekhit AA, Morton JD. Physicochemical Properties and Bioactivity of Extracts from the Roe of New Zealand Hoki and Southern Blue Whiting. JOURNAL OF AQUATIC FOOD PRODUCT TECHNOLOGY 2016. [DOI: 10.1080/10498850.2015.1052604] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Evandro Fei Fang
- Laboratory of Molecular Gerontology, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Tzi Bun Ng
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR, P.R. China
| | - Michelle A. McConnell
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Adnan A. Bekhit
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt
| | - James D. Morton
- Department of Wine, Food and Molecular Biosciences, Lincoln University, Canterbury, New Zealand
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40
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Rosengrave P, Montgomerie R, Gemmell N. Cryptic female choice enhances fertilization success and embryo survival in chinook salmon. Proc Biol Sci 2016; 283:20160001. [PMID: 27009221 PMCID: PMC4822462 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2016.0001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2016] [Accepted: 02/24/2016] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
In this study, we investigated two potentially important intersexual postcopulatory gametic interactions in a population of chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha): (i) the effect of female ovarian fluid (OF) on the behaviour of spermatozoa during fertilization and (ii) the effects of multilocus heterozygosity (MLH) (as an index of male quality) and female-male genetic relatedness on sperm behaviour and male fertilization success when there is sperm competition in the presence of that OF. To do this, we conducted a series of in vitro competitive fertilization experiments and found that, when ejaculates from two males are competing for access to a single female's unfertilized eggs, fertilization success was significantly biased towards the male whose sperm swam fastest in the female's OF. Embryo survival--a measure of fitness--was also positively correlated with both sperm swimming speed in OF and male MLH, providing novel evidence that cryptic female choice is adaptive for the female, enhancing the early survival of her offspring and potentially influencing her fitness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrice Rosengrave
- Department of Anatomy, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand Allan Wilson Centre for Molecular Ecology and Evolution, Department of Anatomy University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Robert Montgomerie
- Department of Biology, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada K7 L 3N6
| | - Neil Gemmell
- Department of Anatomy, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand Allan Wilson Centre for Molecular Ecology and Evolution, Department of Anatomy University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
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Reinhardt K, Dobler R, Abbott J. An Ecology of Sperm: Sperm Diversification by Natural Selection. ANNUAL REVIEW OF ECOLOGY EVOLUTION AND SYSTEMATICS 2015. [DOI: 10.1146/annurev-ecolsys-120213-091611] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Using basic ecological concepts, we introduce sperm ecology as a framework to study sperm cells. First, we describe environmental effects on sperm and conclude that evolutionary and ecological research should not neglect the overwhelming evidence presented here (both in external and internal fertilizers and in terrestrial and aquatic habitats) that sperm function is altered by many environments, including the male environment. Second, we determine that the evidence for sperm phenotypic plasticity is overwhelming. Third, we find that genotype-by-environment interaction effects on sperm function exist, but their general adaptive significance (e.g., local adaptation) awaits further research. It remains unresolved whether sperm diversification occurs by natural selection acting on sperm function or by selection on male and female microenvironments that enable optimal plastic performance of sperm (sperm niches). Environmental effects reduce fitness predictability under sperm competition, predict species distributions under global change, explain adaptive behavior, and highlight the role of natural selection in behavioral ecology and reproductive medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Klaus Reinhardt
- Applied Zoology, Department of Biology, Technische Universität Dresden, 01062 Dresden, Germany;,
| | - Ralph Dobler
- Applied Zoology, Department of Biology, Technische Universität Dresden, 01062 Dresden, Germany;,
| | - Jessica Abbott
- Department of Biology, Lund University, 223 62 Lund, Sweden
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Beirão J, Purchase CF, Wringe BF, Fleming IA. Inter-population ovarian fluid variation differentially modulates sperm motility in Atlantic cod Gadus morhua. JOURNAL OF FISH BIOLOGY 2015; 87:54-68. [PMID: 25919195 DOI: 10.1111/jfb.12685] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2014] [Accepted: 03/06/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
This study tested the hypothesis that the effects of Atlantic cod Gadus morhua ovarian fluid on sperm motility variables are population specific. Sperm from a northern G. morhua population were activated in the presence of ovarian fluid from either northern or southern G. morhua at different concentrations. Ovarian fluid acted as a filter, in some cases reducing sperm swimming performance compared with seawater. Fluid from females foreign in population (southern) to the males (northern) had a greater inhibiting effect than those from the native population. Follow-up analysis indicated that the ovarian fluids had lower Ca(2+) concentration in northern than southern G. morhua, which could be the causative mechanism. If widespread, such cryptic female choice could reduce the incidence of intraspecific hybridization among diverged populations and contribute to reproductive isolation.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Beirão
- Fish Evolutionary Ecology Research Group, Departments of Biology and Ocean Sciences, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St John's, NL, A1C 5S7, Canada
| | - C F Purchase
- Fish Evolutionary Ecology Research Group, Departments of Biology and Ocean Sciences, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St John's, NL, A1C 5S7, Canada
| | - B F Wringe
- Fish Evolutionary Ecology Research Group, Departments of Biology and Ocean Sciences, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St John's, NL, A1C 5S7, Canada
| | - I A Fleming
- Fish Evolutionary Ecology Research Group, Departments of Biology and Ocean Sciences, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St John's, NL, A1C 5S7, Canada
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43
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Jia YD, Niu HX, Meng Z, Liu XF, Lei JL. Biochemical composition of the ovarian fluid and its effects on the fertilization capacity of turbot Scophthalmus maximus during the spawning season. JOURNAL OF FISH BIOLOGY 2015; 86:1612-1620. [PMID: 25943149 DOI: 10.1111/jfb.12676] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2014] [Accepted: 02/26/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
This study investigated the biochemical composition of ovarian fluid and its effect on the fertilization capacity of turbot Scophthalmus maximus during the spawning season. The fertilization rate and pH of ovarian fluid varied throughout the spawning season, with the highest values recorded at the mid-season. Positive correlations were found between the fertilization rate and the ovarian fluid pH. The composition of major inorganic ions (Na(+) , K(+) , Ca(2+) and Cl(-) ) showed no significant changes during the spawning season. Alkaline phosphatase (AKP) activity was significantly higher during mid-season than other seasons. The lowest levels of protein, acid phosphatase (ACP) and aspartate aminotransferase (AAT) were in the ovarian fluid released at the mid-season. Moreover, significant relationships were observed between the fertilization rate and the levels of protein, ACP, AKP and AAT. These observations suggest that the biochemical profile of ovarian fluid affects the insemination microenvironment as well as the fertilization capacity of S. maximus eggs. Determination of such profiles may prove to be a useful strategy to improve S. maximus breeding techniques.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y D Jia
- Yellow Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Qingdao Key Laboratory for Marine Fish Breeding Biotechnology, Qingdao 266071, China
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44
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Johnson SL, Villarroel M, Rosengrave P, Carne A, Kleffmann T, Lokman PM, Gemmell NJ. Proteomic analysis of chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) ovarian fluid. PLoS One 2014; 9:e104155. [PMID: 25089903 PMCID: PMC4121310 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0104155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2014] [Accepted: 07/10/2014] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The ovarian, or coelomic, fluid that is released with the egg mass of many fishes is increasingly found to play an important role in several biological processes crucial for reproductive success. These include maintenance of oocyte fertility and developmental competence, prolonging of sperm motility, and enhancing sperm swimming speed. Here we examined if and how the proteome of chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) ovarian fluid varied among females and then sought to examine the composition of this fluid. Ovarian fluid in chinook salmon was analyzed using 1D SDS PAGE and LC-MS/MS tryptic digest screened against Mascot and Sequest databases. We found marked differences in the number and concentrations of proteins in salmon ovarian fluid across different females. A total of 174 proteins were identified in ovarian fluid, 47 of which were represented by six or more peptides, belonging to one of six Gene Ontology pathways. The response to chemical stimulus and response to hypoxia pathways were best represented, accounting for 26 of the 174 proteins. The current data set provides a resource that furthers our understanding of those factors that influence successful egg production and fertilisation in salmonids and other species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheri L. Johnson
- Allan Wilson Centre for Molecular Ecology and Evolution and Department of Anatomy, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
- Department of Zoology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Marsha Villarroel
- Allan Wilson Centre for Molecular Ecology and Evolution and Department of Anatomy, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Patrice Rosengrave
- Allan Wilson Centre for Molecular Ecology and Evolution and Department of Anatomy, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Alan Carne
- Centre for Protein Research, Department of Biochemistry, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Torsten Kleffmann
- Centre for Protein Research, Department of Biochemistry, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - P. Mark Lokman
- Department of Zoology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Neil J. Gemmell
- Allan Wilson Centre for Molecular Ecology and Evolution and Department of Anatomy, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
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45
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Leivers S, Simmons LW. Human Sperm Competition. ADVANCES IN THE STUDY OF BEHAVIOR 2014. [DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-800286-5.00001-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/22/2023]
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46
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Yeates SE, Diamond SE, Einum S, Emerson BC, Holt WV, Gage MJG. Cryptic choice of conspecific sperm controlled by the impact of ovarian fluid on sperm swimming behavior. Evolution 2013; 67:3523-36. [PMID: 24299405 PMCID: PMC3912916 DOI: 10.1111/evo.12208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2013] [Accepted: 06/29/2013] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Despite evidence that variation in male-female reproductive compatibility exists in many fertilization systems, identifying mechanisms of cryptic female choice at the gamete level has been a challenge. Here, under risks of genetic incompatibility through hybridization, we show how salmon and trout eggs promote fertilization by conspecific sperm. Using in vitro fertilization experiments that replicate the gametic microenvironment, we find complete interfertility between both species. However, if either species' ova were presented with equivalent numbers of both sperm types, conspecific sperm gained fertilization precedence. Surprisingly, the species' identity of the eggs did not explain this cryptic female choice, which instead was primarily controlled by conspecific ovarian fluid, a semiviscous, protein-rich solution that bathes the eggs and is released at spawning. Video analyses revealed that ovarian fluid doubled sperm motile life span and straightened swimming trajectory, behaviors allowing chemoattraction up a concentration gradient. To confirm chemoattraction, cell migration tests through membranes containing pores that approximated to the egg micropyle showed that conspecific ovarian fluid attracted many more spermatozoa through the membrane, compared with heterospecific fluid or water. These combined findings together identify how cryptic female choice can evolve at the gamete level and promote reproductive isolation, mediated by a specific chemoattractive influence of ovarian fluid on sperm swimming behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah E Yeates
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East AngliaNorwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, United Kingdom
| | - Sian E Diamond
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East AngliaNorwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, United Kingdom
| | - Sigurd Einum
- Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics, Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, NO-7491Trondheim, Norway
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, NO-7485Trondheim, Norway
| | - Brent C Emerson
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East AngliaNorwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, United Kingdom
- Island Ecology and Evolution Research Group (IPNA-CSIC), C/Astrofísico Francisco Sánchez 338206 La Laguna, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain
| | - William V Holt
- Academic Department of Reproductive and Developmental Medicine, University of SheffieldLevel 4, Jessop Wing, Tree Root Walk, Sheffield, S10 2SF, United Kingdom
| | - Matthew J G Gage
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East AngliaNorwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, United Kingdom
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Abstract
Sexual selection has resulted in some of the most captivating features of insects, including flashy colors, bizarre structures, and complex pheromones. These features evolve in dynamic environments, where conditions can change rapidly over space and time. However, only recently has ecological complexity been embraced by theory and practice in sexual selection. We review replicated selection studies as well as studies on variation in the agents of selection to delineate gaps in current knowledge and clarify exciting new directions for research. Existing work suggests that fluctuations in sexual selection may be extremely common, though work on the ecological factors influencing these fluctuations is scarce. We suggest that deeper ecological perspectives on sexual selection may alter some of the fundamental assumptions of sexual selection theory and rapidly lead to new discoveries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine W Miller
- Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611;
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48
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Hoover Z, Weisgerber JN, Pollock MS, Chivers DP, Ferrari MCO. Sub-lethal increases in salinity affect reproduction in fathead minnows. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2013; 463-464:334-339. [PMID: 23827358 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2013.06.046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2013] [Revised: 05/28/2013] [Accepted: 06/10/2013] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Salinization poses a threat to many inland aquatic ecosystems, especially in areas where natural processes are compounded by anthropogenic salinization. Though physiological survival can be a challenge for stenohaline freshwater fishes facing increasing salinity, it is important to note that essential and complex activities such as reproduction may be affected well below physiological tolerance limits. Here, we exposed fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas) to four levels of salinity in order to assess any impacts on several egg production and behavioral endpoints. We found significant reductions in total eggs produced, percent fertilization, number of spawning days, clutch size, total time males spent in the nest, and duration of nest care events. Our data demonstrate that salinization can have negative effects on critical reproductive endpoints.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zachary Hoover
- Department of Biology, University of Saskatchewan, 112 Science Place, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5E2, Canada.
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49
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Evans JP, Sherman CDH. Sexual selection and the evolution of egg-sperm interactions in broadcast-spawning invertebrates. THE BIOLOGICAL BULLETIN 2013; 224:166-183. [PMID: 23995741 DOI: 10.1086/bblv224n3p166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Many marine invertebrate taxa are broadcast spawners, where multiple individuals release their gametes into the water for external fertilization, often in the presence of gametes from heterospecifics. Consequently, sperm encounter the considerable challenges of locating and fertilizing eggs from conspecific females. To overcome these challenges, many taxa exhibit species-specific attraction of sperm toward eggs through chemical signals released from eggs (sperm chemotaxis) and species-specific gamete recognition proteins (GRPs) that mediate compatibility of gametes at fertilization. In this prospective review, we highlight these selective forces, but also emphasize the role that sexual selection, manifested through sperm competition, cryptic female choice, and evolutionary conflicts of interest between the sexes (sexual conflict), can also play in mediating the action of egg chemoattractants and GRPs, and thus individual reproductive fitness. Furthermore, we explore patterns of selection at the level of gametes (sperm phenotype, gamete plasticity, and egg traits) to identify putative traits targeted by sexual selection in these species. We conclude by emphasizing the excellent, but relatively untapped, potential of broadcast-spawning marine invertebrates as model systems to illuminate several areas of research in post-mating sexual selection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan P Evans
- Centre for Evolutionary Biology, School of Animal Biology, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Australia.
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50
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Galvano PM, Johnson K, Wilson CC, Pitcher TE, Butts IA. Ovarian fluid influences sperm performance in lake trout, Salvelinus namaycush. Reprod Biol 2013; 13:172-5. [DOI: 10.1016/j.repbio.2013.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2012] [Revised: 02/05/2013] [Accepted: 02/08/2013] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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