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Matveevsky SN, Kolomiets OL, Shchipanov NA, Pavlova SV. Natural male hybrid common shrews with a very long chromosomal multivalent at meiosis appear not to be completely sterile. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL ZOOLOGY. PART B, MOLECULAR AND DEVELOPMENTAL EVOLUTION 2024; 342:45-58. [PMID: 38059675 DOI: 10.1002/jez.b.23232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2023] [Revised: 11/09/2023] [Accepted: 11/19/2023] [Indexed: 12/08/2023]
Abstract
Among 36 known chromosomal hybrid zones of the common shrew Sorex araneus, the Moscow-Seliger hybrid zone is of special interest because inter-racial complex heterozygotes (F1 hybrids) produce the longest meiotic configuration, consisting of 11 chromosomes with monobrachial homology (undecavalent or chain-of-eleven: CXI). Different studies suggest that such a multivalent may negatively affect meiotic progression and in general should significantly reduce fertility of hybrids. In this work, by immunocytochemical and electron microscopy methods, we investigated for the first time chromosome synapsis, recombination and meiotic silencing in pachytene spermatocytes of natural inter-racial heterozygous shrew males carrying CXI configurations. Despite some abnormalities detected in spermatocytes, such as associations of chromosomes, stretched centromeres, and the absence of recombination nodules in some arms of the multivalent, a large number of morphologically normal spermatozoa were observed. Possible low stringency of pachytene checkpoints may mean that even very long meiotic configurations do not cause complete sterility of such complex inter-racial heterozygotes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergey N Matveevsky
- Cytogenetics Laboratory, Vavilov Institute of General Genetics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Oxana L Kolomiets
- Cytogenetics Laboratory, Vavilov Institute of General Genetics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Nikolay A Shchipanov
- Laboratory of Population Ecology, A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Svetlana V Pavlova
- Laboratory of Population Ecology, A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
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2
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Lucek K, Giménez MD, Joron M, Rafajlović M, Searle JB, Walden N, Westram AM, Faria R. The Impact of Chromosomal Rearrangements in Speciation: From Micro- to Macroevolution. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Biol 2023; 15:a041447. [PMID: 37604585 PMCID: PMC10626258 DOI: 10.1101/cshperspect.a041447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/23/2023]
Abstract
Chromosomal rearrangements (CRs) have been known since almost the beginning of genetics. While an important role for CRs in speciation has been suggested, evidence primarily stems from theoretical and empirical studies focusing on the microevolutionary level (i.e., on taxon pairs where speciation is often incomplete). Although the role of CRs in eukaryotic speciation at a macroevolutionary level has been supported by associations between species diversity and rates of evolution of CRs across phylogenies, these findings are limited to a restricted range of CRs and taxa. Now that more broadly applicable and precise CR detection approaches have become available, we address the challenges in filling some of the conceptual and empirical gaps between micro- and macroevolutionary studies on the role of CRs in speciation. We synthesize what is known about the macroevolutionary impact of CRs and suggest new research avenues to overcome the pitfalls of previous studies to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the evolutionary significance of CRs in speciation across the tree of life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kay Lucek
- Biodiversity Genomics Laboratory, Institute of Biology, University of Neuchâtel, 2000 Neuchâtel, Switzerland
| | - Mabel D Giménez
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Instituto de Genética Humana de Misiones (IGeHM), Parque de la Salud de la Provincia de Misiones "Dr. Ramón Madariaga," N3300KAZ Posadas, Misiones, Argentina
- Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Químicas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Misiones, N3300LQH Posadas, Misiones, Argentina
| | - Mathieu Joron
- Centre d'Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Evolutive, Université de Montpellier, CNRS, EPHE, IRD, 34293 Montpellier, France
| | - Marina Rafajlović
- Department of Marine Sciences, University of Gothenburg, 405 30 Gothenburg, Sweden
- Centre for Marine Evolutionary Biology, University of Gothenburg, 405 30 Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Jeremy B Searle
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA
| | - Nora Walden
- Centre for Organismal Studies, University of Heidelberg, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Anja Marie Westram
- Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA), 3400 Klosterneuburg, Austria
- Faculty of Biosciences and Aquaculture, Nord University, 8026 Bodø, Norway
| | - Rui Faria
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado;
- BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIO, Campus de Vairão, Universidade do Porto, 4485-661 Vairão, Portugal
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Zhou W, Furey NM, Soisook P, Thong VD, Lim BK, Rossiter SJ, Mao X. Diversification and introgression in four chromosomal taxa of the Pearson's horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus pearsoni) group. Mol Phylogenet Evol 2023; 183:107784. [PMID: 37040825 DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2023.107784] [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: 12/09/2022] [Revised: 03/11/2023] [Accepted: 04/07/2023] [Indexed: 04/13/2023]
Abstract
Chromosomal variation among closely related taxa is common in both plants and animals, and can reduce rates of introgression as well as promote reproductive isolation and speciation. In mammals, studies relating introgression to chromosomal variation have tended to focus on a few model systems and typically characterized levels of introgression using small numbers of loci. Here we took a genome-wide approach to examine how introgression rates vary among four closely related horseshoe bats (Rhinolophus pearsoni group) that possess different diploid chromosome numbers (2n = 42, 44, 46, and 60) resulting from Robertsonian (Rb) changes (fissions/fusions). Using a sequence capture we obtained orthologous loci for thousands of nuclear loci, as well as mitogenomes, and performed phylogenetic and population genetic analyses. We found that the taxon with 2n = 60 was the first to diverge in this group, and that the relationships among the three other taxa (2n = 42, 44 and 46) showed discordance across our different analyses. Our results revealed signatures of multiple ancient introgression events between the four taxa, with evidence of mitonuclar discordance in phylogenetic trees and reticulation events in their evolutionary history. Despite this, we found no evidence of recent and/or ongoing introgression between taxa. Overall, our results indicate that the effects of Rb changes on the reduction of introgression are complicated and that these may contribute to reproductive isolation and speciation in concert with other factors (e.g. phenotypic and genic divergence).
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Affiliation(s)
- Weiwei Zhou
- School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200062, China
| | - Neil M Furey
- Fauna & Flora International (Cambodia), PO Box 1380, No. 19, Street 360, Boeng Keng Kong 1, Phnom Penh 12000, Cambodia
| | - Pipat Soisook
- Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Natural History Museum, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkhla 90110, Thailand
| | - Vu D Thong
- Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology (VAST), 18 Hoang Quoc Viet Road, Cau Giay District, Hanoi, Viet Nam; Graduate University of Science and Technology, VAST, Viet Nam
| | - Burton K Lim
- Department of Natural History, Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto, Ontario M5S 2C6, Canada
| | - Stephen J Rossiter
- School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London E1 4NS, UK.
| | - Xiuguang Mao
- School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200062, China.
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Irregularities in Meiotic Prophase I as Prerequisites for Reproductive Isolation in Experimental Hybrids Carrying Robertsonian Translocations. DIVERSITY 2023. [DOI: 10.3390/d15030364] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/06/2023]
Abstract
The basic causes of postzygotic isolation can be elucidated if gametogenesis is studied, which is a drastically different process in males and females. As a step toward clarifying this problem, we obtained an experimental inbred lineage of the eastern mole vole Ellobius tancrei, whose founder animals were animals with identical diploid numbers 2n = 50 but with different Robertsonian translocations (Rb), namely 2Rb4.12 and 2Rb9.13 in the female and 2Rb.2.18 and 2Rb5.9 in the male. Here, we analyzed strictly inbred hybrids (F1, fertile and F10, sterile) using immunocytochemical methods in order to study spermatocytes during the meiotic prophase I. Previously, the presence of trivalents was assumed to have no significant effect on spermatogenesis and fertility in hybrids, but we demonstrated that spermatogenesis might be disturbed due to the cumulative effects of the retarded synapses of Rb bivalents as well as trivalents and their associations with XX sex bivalents. Alterations in the number of gametes due to the described processes led to a decrease in reproductive capacity up to sterility and can be examined as a mechanism for reproductive isolation, thus starting speciation.
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Noronha RCR, Almeida BRR, Chagas MCS, Tavares FS, Cardoso AL, Bastos CEMC, Silva NKN, Klautau AGCM, Luna FO, Attademo FLN, Lima DS, Sabioni LA, Sampaio MIC, Oliveira JM, do Nascimento LAS, Martins C, Vicari MR, Nagamachi CY, Pieczarka JC. Karyotypes of Manatees: New Insights into Hybrid Formation ( Trichechus inunguis × Trichechus m. manatus) in the Amazon Estuary. Genes (Basel) 2022; 13:1263. [PMID: 35886048 PMCID: PMC9323068 DOI: 10.3390/genes13071263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2022] [Revised: 07/11/2022] [Accepted: 07/14/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Great efforts have been made to preserve manatees. Recently, a hybrid zone was described between Trichechus inunguis (TIN) and the Trichechus manatus manatus (TMM) in the Amazon estuary. Cytogenetic data on these sirenians are limited, despite being fundamental to understanding the hybridization/introgression dynamics and genomic organization in Trichechus. We analyzed the karyotype of TMM, TIN, and two hybrid specimens ("Poque" and "Vitor") by classical and molecular cytogenetics. G-band analysis revealed that TMM (2n = 48) and TIN (2n = 56) diverge by at least six Robertsonian translocations and a pericentric inversion. Hybrids had 2n = 50, however, with Autosomal Fundamental Number (FNA) = 88 in "Poque" and FNA = 74 in "Vitor", and chromosomal distinct pairs in heterozygous; additionally, "Vitor" exhibited heteromorphisms and chromosomes whose pairs could not be determined. The U2 snDNA and Histone H3 multi genes are distributed in small clusters along TIN and TMM chromosomes and have transposable Keno and Helitron elements (TEs) in their sequences. The different karyotypes observed among manatee hybrids may indicate that they represent different generations formed by crossing between fertile hybrids and TIN. On the other hand, it is also possible that all hybrids recorded represent F1 and the observed karyotype differences must result from mechanisms of elimination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renata C. R. Noronha
- Laboratório de Citogenética, Centro de Estudos Avançados da Biodiversidade, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém 66075-110, PA, Brazil; (B.R.R.A.); (M.C.S.C.); (F.S.T.); (C.E.M.C.B.); (C.Y.N.); (J.C.P.)
| | - Bruno R. R. Almeida
- Laboratório de Citogenética, Centro de Estudos Avançados da Biodiversidade, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém 66075-110, PA, Brazil; (B.R.R.A.); (M.C.S.C.); (F.S.T.); (C.E.M.C.B.); (C.Y.N.); (J.C.P.)
- Campus Itaituba, Instituto Federal de Educação, Ciência e Tecnologia do Pará, Itaituba 68183-300, PA, Brazil
| | - Monique C. S. Chagas
- Laboratório de Citogenética, Centro de Estudos Avançados da Biodiversidade, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém 66075-110, PA, Brazil; (B.R.R.A.); (M.C.S.C.); (F.S.T.); (C.E.M.C.B.); (C.Y.N.); (J.C.P.)
| | - Flávia S. Tavares
- Laboratório de Citogenética, Centro de Estudos Avançados da Biodiversidade, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém 66075-110, PA, Brazil; (B.R.R.A.); (M.C.S.C.); (F.S.T.); (C.E.M.C.B.); (C.Y.N.); (J.C.P.)
| | - Adauto L. Cardoso
- Laboratório Genômica Integrativa, Departamento de Biologia Estrutural e Funcional, Instituto de Biociências de Botucatu, Universidade Estadual Paulista, Botucatu 18618-970, SP, Brazil; (A.L.C.); (C.M.)
| | - Carlos E. M. C. Bastos
- Laboratório de Citogenética, Centro de Estudos Avançados da Biodiversidade, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém 66075-110, PA, Brazil; (B.R.R.A.); (M.C.S.C.); (F.S.T.); (C.E.M.C.B.); (C.Y.N.); (J.C.P.)
| | - Natalia K. N. Silva
- Campus Tucuruí, Universidade do Estado do Pará, Tucuruí 68455-210, PA, Brazil;
| | - Alex G. C. M. Klautau
- Centro Nacional de Pesquisa e Conservação da Biodiversidade Marinha do Norte, Instituto Chico Mendes de Conservação da Biodiversidade, Belém 66635-110, PA, Brazil;
| | - Fábia O. Luna
- Centro Nacional de Pesquisa e Conservação de Mamíferos Aquáticos, Instituto Chico Mendes de Conservação de Biodiversidade, Santos 11050-031, SP, Brazil; (F.O.L.); (F.L.N.A.)
| | - Fernanda L. N. Attademo
- Centro Nacional de Pesquisa e Conservação de Mamíferos Aquáticos, Instituto Chico Mendes de Conservação de Biodiversidade, Santos 11050-031, SP, Brazil; (F.O.L.); (F.L.N.A.)
- Departamento de Zoologia, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Animal/PPBA, Laboratório de Ecologia Comportamento e Conservação/LECC, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco/UFPE, Recife 50670-901, PE, Brazil
| | - Danielle S. Lima
- Grupo de Pesquisa em Mamíferos Aquáticos Amazônicos, Instituto de Desenvolvimento Sustentável Mamirauá, Estrada do Bexiga, Tefé 69553-225, AM, Brazil; (D.S.L.); (L.A.S.)
- Rede de Pesquisa e Conservação de Sirênios no Estuário Amazônico, Macapá 68903-197, AP, Brazil
| | - Luiz A. Sabioni
- Grupo de Pesquisa em Mamíferos Aquáticos Amazônicos, Instituto de Desenvolvimento Sustentável Mamirauá, Estrada do Bexiga, Tefé 69553-225, AM, Brazil; (D.S.L.); (L.A.S.)
- Rede de Pesquisa e Conservação de Sirênios no Estuário Amazônico, Macapá 68903-197, AP, Brazil
- Campus Porto Grande, Instituto Federal de Educação Ciência e Tecnologia do Amapá, Rodovia BR 210, Km 103, s/n, Zona Rural, Porto Grande 68997-000, AP, Brazil
| | - Maria I. C. Sampaio
- Instituto de Estudos Costeiros, Campus Bragança, Universidade Federal do Pará, Bragança 68600-000, PA, Brazil;
| | - Jairo Moura Oliveira
- Zoological Park of Santarém, ZOOUNAMA, Universidade da Amazônia, Santarém 68030-150, PA, Brazil;
| | | | - Cesar Martins
- Laboratório Genômica Integrativa, Departamento de Biologia Estrutural e Funcional, Instituto de Biociências de Botucatu, Universidade Estadual Paulista, Botucatu 18618-970, SP, Brazil; (A.L.C.); (C.M.)
| | - Marcelo R. Vicari
- Departamento de Biologia Estrutural, Molecular e Genética, Universidade Estadual de Ponta Grossa, Ponta Grossa 84030-900, PR, Brazil;
| | - Cleusa Y. Nagamachi
- Laboratório de Citogenética, Centro de Estudos Avançados da Biodiversidade, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém 66075-110, PA, Brazil; (B.R.R.A.); (M.C.S.C.); (F.S.T.); (C.E.M.C.B.); (C.Y.N.); (J.C.P.)
| | - Julio C. Pieczarka
- Laboratório de Citogenética, Centro de Estudos Avançados da Biodiversidade, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém 66075-110, PA, Brazil; (B.R.R.A.); (M.C.S.C.); (F.S.T.); (C.E.M.C.B.); (C.Y.N.); (J.C.P.)
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Karyotypical Confirmation of Natural Hybridization between Two Manatee Species, Trichechus manatus and Trichechus inunguis. Life (Basel) 2022; 12:life12050616. [PMID: 35629284 PMCID: PMC9145575 DOI: 10.3390/life12050616] [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: 03/31/2022] [Revised: 04/17/2022] [Accepted: 04/18/2022] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Two species of manatees are found in Northern Brazil—the Antillean manatee (Trichechus manatus), which is found along the coast from Florida to Northeastern Brazil, and the Amazonian manatee (Trichechus inunguis), endemic to the Amazon drainage basin. These species show a sympatric distribution in the region of the Marajó Archipelago, an estuarine area surrounding the Amazon River mouth. There is evidence of the occurrence of interspecific hybrids in this area, based on mitochondrial DNA analyses, although the use of nuclear markers has not corroborated this proposal. Considering that these species show very distinct karyotypes, despite being closely related (2n = 48 in T. manatus and 2n = 56 in T. inunguis), hybrids would present distinct chromosome numbers. Based on this, we conducted cytogenetic analyses using classic and molecular techniques in three calves found stranded in the Marajó Island and Amapá coast. The results showed that one of them, morphologically classified as T. inunguis, presented the correspondent karyotype, with 2n = 56. However, the other two, which were phenotypically similar to T. manatus, showed 2n = 49. Despite the same diploid number, their G-banding patterns revealed some differences. The results of the distribution of some microsatellite sequences have also confirmed the heterozygosity of some chromosomal pairs in these two individuals. These results are the first indubitable confirmation of the occurrence of natural hybrids between T. manatus and T. inunguis, and also brings about some issues concerning the viability of hybrids, considering that these two individuals do not correspond to an F1 hybrid, but instead, both presented a possible F2 karyotype.
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Forejt J, Jansa P, Parvanov E. Hybrid sterility genes in mice (Mus musculus): a peculiar case of PRDM9 incompatibility. Trends Genet 2021; 37:1095-1108. [PMID: 34238593 DOI: 10.1016/j.tig.2021.06.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2021] [Revised: 06/08/2021] [Accepted: 06/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Hybrid sterility is a critical step in the evolution of reproductive barriers between diverging taxa during the process of speciation. Recent studies of young subspecies of the house mouse revealed a multigenic nature and frequent polymorphism of hybrid sterility genes as well as the recurrent engagement of the meiosis-specific gene PR domain-containing 9 (Prdm9) and X-linked loci. Prdm9-controlled hybrid sterility is essentially chromosomal in nature, conditioned by the sequence divergence between subspecies. Depending on the Prdm9 interallelic interactions and the X-linked Hstx2 locus, the same homologs either regularly recombine and synapse, or show impaired DNA DSB repair, asynapsis, and early meiotic arrest. Thus, Prdm9-dependent hybrid sterility points to incompatibilities affecting meiotic recombination as a possible mechanism of reproductive isolation between (sub)species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiri Forejt
- Department of Mouse Molecular Genetics, Institute of Molecular Genetics, Czech Academy of Sciences, Vestec 252 50, Czech Republic.
| | - Petr Jansa
- Department of Mouse Molecular Genetics, Institute of Molecular Genetics, Czech Academy of Sciences, Vestec 252 50, Czech Republic
| | - Emil Parvanov
- Department of Mouse Molecular Genetics, Institute of Molecular Genetics, Czech Academy of Sciences, Vestec 252 50, Czech Republic
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Chromosomal Polymorphism and Speciation: The Case of the Genus Mazama (Cetartiodactyla; Cervidae). Genes (Basel) 2021; 12:genes12020165. [PMID: 33530376 PMCID: PMC7911811 DOI: 10.3390/genes12020165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2020] [Revised: 01/21/2021] [Accepted: 01/23/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Chromosomal polymorphism plays a major role in speciation processes in mammals with high rates of karyotypic evolution, as observed in the family Cervidae. One remarkable example is the genus Mazama that comprises wide inter- and intra-specific chromosomal variability. To evaluate the impact of chromosomal polymorphisms as reproductive barriers within the genus Mazama, inter-specific hybrids between Mazama gouazoubira and Mazama nemorivaga (MGO × MNE) and intra-specific hybrids between cytotypes of Mazama americana (MAM) differing by a tandem (TF) or centric fusion (Robertsonian translocations—RT) were evaluated. MGO × MNE hybrid fertility was evaluated by the seminal quality and testicular histology. MAM hybrids estimation of the meiotic segregation products was performed by sperm-FISH analysis. MGO × MNE hybrids analyses showed different degrees of fertility reduction, from severe subfertility to complete sterility. Regarding MAM, RT, and TF carriers showed a mean value for alternate segregation rate of 97.74%, and 67.23%, and adjacent segregation rate of 1.80%, and 29.07%, respectively. Our results suggested an efficient post-zygotic barrier represented by severe fertility reduction for MGO × MNE and MAM with heterozygous TF. Nevertheless, RT did not show a severe effect on the reproductive fitness in MAM. Our data support the validity of MGO and MNE as different species and reveals cryptic species within MAM.
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Carlitz EHD, Runge JN, König B, Winkler L, Kirschbaum C, Gao W, Lindholm AK. Steroid hormones in hair reveal sexual maturity and competition in wild house mice (Mus musculus domesticus). Sci Rep 2019; 9:16925. [PMID: 31729421 PMCID: PMC6858357 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-53362-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2019] [Accepted: 10/24/2019] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Endocrine data from wild populations provide important insight into social systems. However, obtaining samples for traditional methods involves capture and restraint of animals, and/or pain, which can influence the animal’s stress level, and thereby undesirable release of hormones. Here, we measured corticosterone, testosterone and progesterone in the hair of 482 wild-derived house mice that experienced sexual competition while living under semi-natural conditions. We tested whether sex, age, weight and indicators of sexual maturity, reproduction and social conflicts predict hormone concentrations measured in hair (sampling at endpoint). We show that body weight, sex and age significantly predict cumulative testosterone and progesterone levels, allowing the differentiation between subadults and adults in both sexes. Corticosterone was only slightly elevated in older males compared to older females and increased with the level of visible injuries or scars. Testosterone in males positively correlated with body weight, age, testes size, and sperm number. Progesterone in females significantly increased with age, body weight, and the number of embryos implanted throughout life, but not with the number of litters when controlled for age and weight. Our results highlight the biological validity of hair steroid measurements and provide important insight into reproductive competition in wild house mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Esther H D Carlitz
- Department of Psychology, Biological Psychology, Technical University of Dresden, Dresden, Germany.
| | - Jan-Niklas Runge
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Barbara König
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Lennart Winkler
- Department of Applied Zoology, Technical University of Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Clemens Kirschbaum
- Department of Psychology, Biological Psychology, Technical University of Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Wei Gao
- Department of Psychology, Biological Psychology, Technical University of Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Anna K Lindholm
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland
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