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Wu T, Cao DH, Liu Y, Yu H, Fu DY, Ye H, Xu J. Mating-Induced Common and Sex-Specific Behavioral, Transcriptional Changes in the Moth Fall Armyworm ( Spodoptera frugiperda, Noctuidae, Lepidoptera) in Laboratory. INSECTS 2023; 14:209. [PMID: 36835778 PMCID: PMC9964209 DOI: 10.3390/insects14020209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2022] [Revised: 02/10/2023] [Accepted: 02/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
The intermediate process between mating and postmating behavioral changes in insects is still poorly known. Here, we studied mating-induced common and sex-specific behavioral and transcriptional changes in both sexes of Spodoptera frugiperda and tested whether the transcriptional changes are linked to postmating behavioral changes in each sex. A behavioral study showed that mating caused a temporary suppression of female calling and male courting behavior, and females did not lay eggs until the next day after the first mating. The significant differences on daily fecundity under the presence of males or not, and the same or novel males, suggest that females may intentionally retain eggs to be fertilized by novel males or to be fertilized competitively by different males. RNA sequencing in females revealed that there are more reproduction related GO (gene ontology) terms and KEGG (Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes) pathways (mainly related to egg and zygote development) enriched to upregulated DEGs (differentially expressed genes) than to downregulated DEGs at 0 and 24 h postmating. In males, however, mating induced DEGs did not enrich any reproduction related terms/pathways, which may be because male reproductive bioinformatics is relatively limited in moths. Mating also induced upregulation on soma maintenance (such as immune activity and stress reaction) related processes in females at 0, 6 and 24 h postmating. In males, mating also induced upregulation on soma maintenance related processes at 0 h postmating, but induced downregulation on these processes at 6 and 24 h postmating. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that mating induced sex-specific postmating behavioral and transcriptional changes in both sexes of S. frugiperda and suggested that the transcriptional changes are correlated with postmating physiological and behavioral changes in each sex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ting Wu
- Yunnan Academy of Biodiversity, Southwest Forestry University, Kunming 650224, China
| | - Da-Hu Cao
- Yunnan Academy of Biodiversity, Southwest Forestry University, Kunming 650224, China
| | - Yu Liu
- Yunnan Academy of Biodiversity, Southwest Forestry University, Kunming 650224, China
| | - Hong Yu
- Yunnan Key Laboratory of Plateau Wetland Conservation, Restoration and Ecological Services, Southwest Forestry University, Kunming 650224, China
| | - Da-Ying Fu
- School of Life Science, Southwest Forestry University, Kunming 650224, China
| | - Hui Ye
- School of Ecology and Environment, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, China
| | - Jin Xu
- Yunnan Academy of Biodiversity, Southwest Forestry University, Kunming 650224, China
- Yunnan Key Laboratory of Plateau Wetland Conservation, Restoration and Ecological Services, Southwest Forestry University, Kunming 650224, China
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Zhao QY, Zhang LY, Fu DY, Xu J, Chen P, Ye H. Lactobacillus spp. in the reproductive system of female moths and mating induced changes and possible transmission. BMC Microbiol 2022; 22:308. [PMID: 36536275 PMCID: PMC9762107 DOI: 10.1186/s12866-022-02724-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2022] [Accepted: 12/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The microbiome in the insect reproductive tract is poorly understood. Our previous study demonstrated the presence of Lactobacillus spp. in female moths, but their distribution and function remain unclear. Lactobacillus spp. are known as the 'healthy' vaginal microbiome in humans. RESULTS Here, we studied the microbiome in the reproductive system (RS) and gut of Spodoptera frugiperda using 16S rDNA sequences. The obtained 4315 bacterial OTUs were classified into 61 phyla and 642 genera, with Proteobacteria, Firmicutes and Bacteroidota being the top three dominant phyla and Enterococcus and Asaia being dominant genera in most samples. Mating dramatically increased the abundance of pathogens or pathogenic functions in the gut, while in the RS, the change range was trivial. Taxonomy assignment identified thirteen Lactobacillus spp. in S. frugiperda, with Lactobacillus crustorum and Lactobacillus murinus showing high abundance. Three species found in S. frugiperda, namely L. reuteri, L. plantarum and L. brevis, have also been identified as human 'healthy' vaginal bacterial species. Lactobacillus spp. showed higher abundance in the RS of virgin females and lower abundance in the RS of virgin males and the gut of virgin females. Mating reduced their abundance in the RS of females but increased their abundance in the RS of males, especially in males mated with multiple females. The RS of virgin females and of multiple mated males were very similar in terms of composition and abundance of Lactobacillus species, with Lactobacillus crustorum showing much higher abundance in both tissues, potentially due to sexual transmission. CONCLUSIONS Lactobacillus spp. showed high abundance and diversity in the RS of female moths. The higher abundance of Lactobacillus spp. in the RS of female moths and the similarity of Lactobacillus species in female moths with human 'healthy' vaginal Lactobacillus spp. suggest that these bacterial strains are also an important microbiome in the RS of female moths.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qing-Yi Zhao
- grid.412720.20000 0004 1761 2943Yunnan Academy of Biodiversity, Southwest Forestry University, Bailong Road 300#, Kunming, 650224 China ,grid.412720.20000 0004 1761 2943Key Laboratory for Forest Resources Conservation and Utilization in the Southwest Mountains of China, Ministry of Education, Southwest Forestry University, Bailong Road 300#, Kunming, 650224 China
| | - Luo-Yan Zhang
- grid.412720.20000 0004 1761 2943Yunnan Academy of Biodiversity, Southwest Forestry University, Bailong Road 300#, Kunming, 650224 China
| | - Da-Ying Fu
- grid.412720.20000 0004 1761 2943Yunnan Academy of Biodiversity, Southwest Forestry University, Bailong Road 300#, Kunming, 650224 China
| | - Jin Xu
- grid.412720.20000 0004 1761 2943Yunnan Academy of Biodiversity, Southwest Forestry University, Bailong Road 300#, Kunming, 650224 China ,grid.412720.20000 0004 1761 2943Key Laboratory for Forest Resources Conservation and Utilization in the Southwest Mountains of China, Ministry of Education, Southwest Forestry University, Bailong Road 300#, Kunming, 650224 China
| | - Peng Chen
- grid.464490.b0000 0004 1798 048XYunnan Academy of Forestry and Grassland, Lanan Road 2#, Kunming, 650201 China
| | - Hui Ye
- grid.440773.30000 0000 9342 2456School of Ecology and Environment, Yunnan University, Cuihu North Road 2#, Kunming, 650091 China
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Yu H, Shi MR, Xu J, Chen P, Liu JH. Mating-Induced Trade-Offs upon Egg Production versus Fertilization and Offspring's Survival in a Sawfly with Facultative Parthenogenesis. INSECTS 2021; 12:693. [PMID: 34442259 PMCID: PMC8396567 DOI: 10.3390/insects12080693] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2021] [Revised: 07/26/2021] [Accepted: 07/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Investigation of mating-induced trade-offs between reproduction and survival is conducive to provide evolutionary insights into reproductive strategies and aging. Here, we used RNAseq and bioinformatics to reveal mating-induced changes of genes and pathways related to reproduction and survival in female Cephalcia chuxiongica, a pine defoliator with facultative parthenogenesis and long larval dormancy. Results showed that mating induced substantial downregulation on genes and pathways associated to immunity, stress response, and longevity. However, mating induced divergent reproductive response, with downregulation on genes and pathways related to egg production while upregulation on genes and pathways related to egg fertilization. Considering the nature of limited resources in adults, low fecundity, and egg protection behavior in C. chuxiongica, we suggest that mating triggers trade-offs between reproduction and survival in this insect and females of this species may have evolved specific strategies to adapt to the environmental and hosts' conditions, e.g., restrict whole fecundity to ensure higher fertilization and offspring's survival. Moreover, mating induced significant responses on genes and pathways that play important roles in vertebrate reproduction while their function in insects are unclear, such as the progesterone-mediated oocyte maturation pathway; the significant regulation after mating suggests that their function may be evolutionarily conserved in animal kingdom.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong Yu
- Yunnan Academy of Biodiversity, Southwest Forestry University, Kunming 650224, China; (H.Y.); (M.-R.S.)
| | - Min-Rui Shi
- Yunnan Academy of Biodiversity, Southwest Forestry University, Kunming 650224, China; (H.Y.); (M.-R.S.)
| | - Jin Xu
- Yunnan Academy of Biodiversity, Southwest Forestry University, Kunming 650224, China; (H.Y.); (M.-R.S.)
- Key Laboratory for Forest Resources Conservation and Utilization in the Southwest Mountains of China, Ministry of Education, Southwest Forestry University, Kunming 650224, China
| | - Peng Chen
- Yunnan Academy of Forestry and Grassland, Kunming 650201, China;
| | - Jian-Hong Liu
- Yunnan Academy of Biodiversity, Southwest Forestry University, Kunming 650224, China; (H.Y.); (M.-R.S.)
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Role of Endocrine System in the Regulation of Female Insect Reproduction. BIOLOGY 2021; 10:biology10070614. [PMID: 34356469 PMCID: PMC8301000 DOI: 10.3390/biology10070614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2021] [Revised: 06/26/2021] [Accepted: 06/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
The proper synthesis and functioning of ecdysteroids and juvenile hormones (JHs) are very important for the regulation of vitellogenesis and oogenesis. However, their role and function contrast among different orders, and even in the same insect order. For example, the JH is the main hormone that regulates vitellogenesis in hemimetabolous insect orders, which include Orthoptera, Blattodea, and Hemiptera, while ecdysteroids regulate the vitellogenesis among the insect orders of Diptera, some Hymenoptera and Lepidoptera. These endocrine hormones also regulate each other. Even at some specific stage of insect life, they positively regulate each other, while at other stages of insect life, they negatively control each other. Such positive and negative interaction of 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E) and JH is also discussed in this review article to better understand the role of these hormones in regulating the reproduction. Therefore, the purpose of the present review is to deeply understand the complex interaction of endocrine hormones with each other and with the insulin signaling pathway. The role of microbiomes in the regulation of the insect endocrine system is also reviewed, as the endocrine hormones are significantly affected by the compounds produced by the microbiota.
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Diaz F, Allan CW, Markow TA, Bono JM, Matzkin LM. Gene expression and alternative splicing dynamics are perturbed in female head transcriptomes following heterospecific copulation. BMC Genomics 2021; 22:359. [PMID: 34006224 PMCID: PMC8132402 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-021-07669-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2021] [Accepted: 04/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Despite the growing interest in the female side of copulatory interactions, the roles played by differential expression and alternative splicing mechanisms of pre-RNA on tissues outside of the reproductive tract have remained largely unknown. Here we addressed these questions in the context of con- vs heterospecific matings between Drosophila mojavensis and its sister species, D. arizonae. We analyzed transcriptional responses in female heads using an integrated investigation of genome-wide patterns of gene expression, including differential expression (DE), alternative splicing (AS) and intron retention (IR). RESULTS Our results indicated that early transcriptional responses were largely congruent between con- and heterospecific matings but are substantially perturbed over time. Conspecific matings induced functional pathways related to amino acid balance previously associated with the brain's physiology and female postmating behavior. Heterospecific matings often failed to activate regulation of some of these genes and induced expression of additional genes when compared with those of conspecifically-mated females. These mechanisms showed functional specializations with DE genes mostly linked to pathways of proteolysis and nutrient homeostasis, while AS genes were more related to photoreception and muscle assembly pathways. IR seems to play a more general role in DE regulation during the female postmating response. CONCLUSIONS We provide evidence showing that AS genes substantially perturbed by heterospecific matings in female heads evolve at slower evolutionary rates than the genome background. However, DE genes evolve at evolutionary rates similar, or even higher, than those of male reproductive genes, which highlights their potential role in sexual selection and the evolution of reproductive barriers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fernando Diaz
- Department of Entomology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA.
| | - Carson W Allan
- Department of Entomology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Therese Ann Markow
- Cinvestav UGA-Langebio, Irapuato, Guanajuato, Mexico
- Division of Biological Sciences, Section of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Jeremy M Bono
- Department of Biology, University of Colorado Colorado Springs, Colorado Springs, USA.
| | - Luciano M Matzkin
- Department of Entomology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA.
- BIO5 Institute, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA.
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA.
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White MA, Chen DS, Wolfner MF. She's got nerve: roles of octopamine in insect female reproduction. J Neurogenet 2021; 35:132-153. [PMID: 33909537 DOI: 10.1080/01677063.2020.1868457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
The biogenic monoamine octopamine (OA) is a crucial regulator of invertebrate physiology and behavior. Since its discovery in the 1950s in octopus salivary glands, OA has been implicated in many biological processes among diverse invertebrate lineages. It can act as a neurotransmitter, neuromodulator and neurohormone in a variety of biological contexts, and can mediate processes including feeding, sleep, locomotion, flight, learning, memory, and aggression. Here, we focus on the roles of OA in female reproduction in insects. OA is produced in the octopaminergic neurons that innervate the female reproductive tract (RT). It exerts its effects by binding to receptors throughout the RT to generate tissue- and region-specific outcomes. OA signaling regulates oogenesis, ovulation, sperm storage, and reproductive behaviors in response to the female's internal state and external conditions. Mating profoundly changes a female's physiology and behavior. The female's OA signaling system interacts with, and is modified by, male molecules transferred during mating to elicit a subset of the post-mating changes. Since the role of OA in female reproduction is best characterized in the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster, we focus our discussion on this species but include discussion of OA in other insect species whenever relevant. We conclude by proposing areas for future research to further the understanding of OA's involvement in female reproduction in insects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa A White
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Dawn S Chen
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Mariana F Wolfner
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
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