1
|
Jimenez-Gonzalez A, Ansaloni F, Nebendahl C, Alavioon G, Murray D, Robak W, Sanges R, Müller F, Immler S. Paternal starvation affects metabolic gene expression during zebrafish offspring development and lifelong fitness. Mol Ecol 2024; 33:e17296. [PMID: 38361456 DOI: 10.1111/mec.17296] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2023] [Revised: 01/03/2024] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 02/17/2024]
Abstract
Dietary restriction in the form of fasting is a putative key to a healthier and longer life, but these benefits may come at a trade-off with reproductive fitness and may affect the following generation(s). The potential inter- and transgenerational effects of long-term fasting and starvation are particularly poorly understood in vertebrates when they originate from the paternal line. We utilised the externally fertilising zebrafish amenable to a split-egg clutch design to explore the male-specific effects of fasting/starvation on fertility and fitness of offspring independently of maternal contribution. Eighteen days of fasting resulted in reduced fertility in exposed males. While average offspring survival was not affected, we detected increased larval growth rate in F1 offspring from starved males and more malformed embryos at 24 h post-fertilisation in F2 offspring produced by F1 offspring from starved males. Comparing the transcriptomes of F1 embryos sired by starved and fed fathers revealed robust and reproducible increased expression of muscle composition genes but lower expression of lipid metabolism and lysosome genes in embryos from starved fathers. A large proportion of these genes showed enrichment in the yolk syncytial layer suggesting gene regulatory responses associated with metabolism of nutrients through paternal effects on extra-embryonic tissues which are loaded with maternal factors. We compared the embryo transcriptomes to published adult transcriptome datasets and found comparable repressive effects of starvation on metabolism-associated genes. These similarities suggest a physiologically relevant, directed and potentially adaptive response transmitted by the father, independently from the offspring's nutritional state, which was defined by the mother.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ada Jimenez-Gonzalez
- Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Federico Ansaloni
- Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
- Central RNA Laboratory, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), Genova, Italy
- Area of Neuroscience, Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati (SISSA), Trieste, Italy
| | | | - Ghazal Alavioon
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - David Murray
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK
- Centre for Environment, Fisheries, and Aquaculture Science, Lowestoft, UK
| | - Weronika Robak
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK
| | - Remo Sanges
- Central RNA Laboratory, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), Genova, Italy
- Area of Neuroscience, Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati (SISSA), Trieste, Italy
| | - Ferenc Müller
- Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Simone Immler
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Scott MF, Mackintosh C, Immler S. Gametic selection favours polyandry and selfing. PLoS Genet 2024; 20:e1010660. [PMID: 38363804 PMCID: PMC10903963 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1010660] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2023] [Revised: 02/29/2024] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 02/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Competition among pollen or sperm (gametic selection) can cause evolution. Mating systems shape the intensity of gametic selection by determining the competitors involved, which can in turn cause the mating system itself to evolve. We model the bidirectional relationship between gametic selection and mating systems, focusing on variation in female mating frequency (monandry-polyandry) and self-fertilisation (selfing-outcrossing). First, we find that monandry and selfing both reduce the efficiency of gametic selection in removing deleterious alleles. This means that selfing can increase mutation load, in contrast to cases without gametic selection where selfing purges deleterious mutations and decreases mutation load. Second, we explore how mating systems evolve via their effect on gametic selection. By manipulating gametic selection, polyandry can evolve to increase the fitness of the offspring produced. However, this indirect advantage of post-copulatory sexual selection is weak and is likely to be overwhelmed by any direct fitness effects of mating systems. Nevertheless, gametic selection can be potentially decisive for selfing evolution because it significantly reduces inbreeding depression, which favours selfing. Thus, the presence of gametic selection could be a key factor driving selfing evolution.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Michael Francis Scott
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, Norfolk, United Kingdom
| | - Carl Mackintosh
- CNRS, UMR7144 Adaptation et Diversité en Milieu Marin, Station Biologique de Roscoff, Roscoff, France
- Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Université Paris VI, Roscoff, France
| | - Simone Immler
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, Norfolk, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Chen HY, Krieg T, Mautz B, Jolly C, Scofield D, Maklakov AA, Immler S. Germline mutation rate is elevated in young and old parents in Caenorhabditis remanei. Evol Lett 2023; 7:478-489. [PMID: 38045724 PMCID: PMC10692996 DOI: 10.1093/evlett/qrad052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2023] [Revised: 09/19/2023] [Accepted: 10/06/2023] [Indexed: 12/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The effect of parental age on germline mutation rate across generations is not fully understood. While some studies report a positive linear relationship of mutation rate with increasing age, others suggest that mutation rate varies with age but not in a linear fashion. We investigated the effect of parental age on germline mutations by generating replicated mutation accumulation lines in Caenorhabditis remanei at three parental ages ("Young T1" [Day 1], "Peak T2" [Day 2], and "Old T5" [Day 5] parents). We conducted whole-genome resequencing and variant calling to compare differences in mutation rates after three generations of mutation accumulation. We found that Peak T2 lines had an overall reduced mutation rate compared to Young T1 and Old T5 lines, but this pattern of the effect varied depending on the variant impact. Specifically, we found no high-impact variants in Peak T2 lines, and modifiers and up- and downstream gene variants were less frequent in these lines. These results suggest that animals at the peak of reproduction have better DNA maintenance and repair compared to young and old animals. We propose that C. remanei start to reproduce before they optimize their DNA maintenance and repair, trading the benefits of earlier onset of reproduction against offspring mutation load. The increase in offspring mutation load with age likely represents germline senescence.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hwei-yen Chen
- Department of Ecology and Genetics, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
- Department of Biology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Therese Krieg
- Department of Ecology and Genetics, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Brian Mautz
- Department of Medicine, Division of Epidemiology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, United States
| | - Cécile Jolly
- Department of Ecology and Genetics, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
- Department of Organismal Biology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Douglas Scofield
- Department of Ecology and Genetics, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Alexei A Maklakov
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, United Kingdom
| | - Simone Immler
- Department of Ecology and Genetics, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Graziano M, Solberg MF, Glover KA, Vasudeva R, Dyrhovden L, Murray D, Immler S, Gage MJG. Pre-fertilization gamete thermal environment influences reproductive success, unmasking opposing sex-specific responses in Atlantic salmon ( Salmo salar). R Soc Open Sci 2023; 10:231427. [PMID: 38094267 PMCID: PMC10716643 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.231427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2023] [Accepted: 11/16/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2024]
Abstract
The environment gametes perform in just before fertilization is increasingly recognized to affect offspring fitness, yet the contributions of male and female gametes and their adaptive significance remain largely unexplored. Here, we investigated gametic thermal plasticity and its effects on hatching success and embryo performance in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar). Eggs and sperm were incubated overnight at 2°C or 8°C, temperatures within the optimal thermal range of this species. Crosses between warm- and cold-incubated gametes were compared using a full-factorial design, with half of each clutch reared in cold temperatures and the other in warm temperatures. This allowed disentangling single-sex interaction effects when pre-fertilization temperature of gametes mismatched embryonic conditions. Pre-fertilization temperature influenced hatch timing and synchrony, and matching sperm and embryo temperatures resulted in earlier hatching. Warm incubation benefited eggs but harmed sperm, reducing the hatching success and, overall, gametic thermal plasticity did not enhance offspring fitness, indicating vulnerability to thermal changes. We highlight the sensitivity of male gametes to higher temperatures, and that gamete acclimation may not effectively buffer against deleterious effects of thermal fluctuations. From an applied angle, we propose the differential storage of male and female gametes as a tool to enhance sustainability within the hatcheries.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marco Graziano
- Centre for Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation, School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich NR4 7TJ, UK
| | - Monica F. Solberg
- Population Genetics Group, Institute of Marine Research, 5817 Bergen, Norway
| | - Kevin A. Glover
- Population Genetics Group, Institute of Marine Research, 5817 Bergen, Norway
| | - Ramakrishnan Vasudeva
- Centre for Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation, School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich NR4 7TJ, UK
- Faculty of Biological Sciences, School of Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK
| | - Lise Dyrhovden
- Population Genetics Group, Institute of Marine Research, 5817 Bergen, Norway
| | - David Murray
- Centre for Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation, School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich NR4 7TJ, UK
- Centre for Environment Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (CEFAS), Lowestoft NR33 0HT, UK
| | - Simone Immler
- Centre for Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation, School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich NR4 7TJ, UK
| | - Matthew J. G. Gage
- Centre for Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation, School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich NR4 7TJ, UK
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Ivimey-Cook ER, Murray DS, de Coriolis JC, Edden N, Immler S, Maklakov AA. Correction to: 'Fasting increases investment in soma upon refeeding at the cost of gamete quality in zebrafish' (2023) by Ivimey-Cook et al.. Proc Biol Sci 2023; 290:20230872. [PMID: 37132242 PMCID: PMC10154932 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2023.0872] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/04/2023] Open
|
6
|
Ivimey-Cook ER, Murray DS, de Coriolis JC, Edden N, Immler S, Maklakov AA. Fasting increases investment in soma upon refeeding at the cost of gamete quality in zebrafish. Proc Biol Sci 2023; 290:20221556. [PMID: 37040805 PMCID: PMC10089719 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2022.1556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Fasting increases lifespan in invertebrates, improves biomarkers of health in vertebrates and is increasingly proposed as a promising route to improve human health. Nevertheless, little is known about how fasted animals use resources upon refeeding, and how such decisions affect putative trade-offs between somatic growth and repair, reproduction and gamete quality. Such fasting-induced trade-offs are based on strong theoretical foundations and have been recently discovered in invertebrates, but the data on vertebrates are lacking. Here, we report that fasted female zebrafish, Danio rerio, increase investment in soma upon refeeding, but it comes at a cost of egg quality. Specifically, an increase in fin regrowth was accompanied by a reduction in 24 h post-fertilization offspring survival. Refed males showed a reduction in sperm velocity and impaired 24 h post-fertilization offspring survival. These findings underscore the necessity of considering the impact on reproduction when assessing evolutionary and biomedical implications of lifespan-extending treatments in females and males and call for careful evaluation of the effects of intermittent fasting on fertilization.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Edward R Ivimey-Cook
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norfolk NR4 7TJ, UK
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - David S Murray
- Collaborative Centre for Sustainable Use of the Seas (CCSUS), School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norfolk NR4 7TJ, UK
- The Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas), Lowestoft, Suffolk NR33 0HT, UK
| | | | - Nathan Edden
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norfolk NR4 7TJ, UK
| | - Simone Immler
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norfolk NR4 7TJ, UK
| | - Alexei A Maklakov
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norfolk NR4 7TJ, UK
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Godden AM, Immler S. The potential role of the mobile and non-coding genomes in adaptive response. Trends Genet 2023; 39:5-8. [PMID: 36058789 DOI: 10.1016/j.tig.2022.08.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2022] [Revised: 08/15/2022] [Accepted: 08/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The tightly regulated feedback loops linking small RNAs (sRNAs) and transposable elements (TEs) offer the opportunity for an adaptive response to changing environments at the molecular level. Environmentally induced changes in TE and sRNA profiles may affect expression of coding genes and trigger an organismic and transgenerational response. Understanding this link may provide a mechanistic explanation for how species can adapt to changing climates and may offer novel molecular targets for biomedical and agricultural applications.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alice M Godden
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, UK.
| | - Simone Immler
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
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] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [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.
Collapse
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
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Duxbury EML, Carlsson H, Sales K, Sultanova Z, Immler S, Chapman T, Maklakov AA. Multigenerational downregulation of insulin/IGF-1 signaling in adulthood improves lineage survival, reproduction, and fitness in Caenorhabditis elegans supporting the developmental theory of ageing. Evolution 2022; 76:2829-2845. [PMID: 36199198 PMCID: PMC10092551 DOI: 10.1111/evo.14640] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2022] [Revised: 07/18/2022] [Accepted: 09/08/2022] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Adulthood-only downregulation of insulin/IGF-1 signaling (IIS), an evolutionarily conserved pathway regulating resource allocation between somatic maintenance and reproduction, increases life span without fecundity cost in the nematode, Caenorhabditis elegans. However, long-term multigenerational effects of reduced IIS remain unexplored and are proposed to carry costs for offspring quality. To test this hypothesis, we ran a mutation accumulation (MA) experiment and downregulated IIS in half of the 400 MA lines by silencing daf-2 gene expression using RNA interference (RNAi) across 40 generations. Contrary to the prediction, adulthood-only daf-2 RNAi reduced extinction of MA lines both under UV-induced and spontaneous MA. Fitness of the surviving UV-induced MA lines was higher under daf-2 RNAi. Reduced IIS increased intergenerational F1 offspring fitness under UV stress but had no quantifiable transgenerational effects. Functional hrde-1 was required for the benefits of multigenerational daf-2 RNAi. Overall, we found net benefit to fitness from multigenerational reduction of IIS and the benefits became more apparent under stress. Because reduced daf-2 expression during development carries fitness costs, we suggest that our findings are best explained by the developmental theory of ageing, which maintains that the decline in the force of selection with age results in poorly regulated gene expression in adulthood.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth M L Duxbury
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, United Kingdom
| | - Hanne Carlsson
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, United Kingdom
| | - Kris Sales
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, United Kingdom
| | - Zahida Sultanova
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, United Kingdom
| | - Simone Immler
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, United Kingdom
| | - Tracey Chapman
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, United Kingdom
| | - Alexei A Maklakov
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
van Oosterhout C, Marcu D, Immler S. Accounting for the genetic load in assisted reproductive technology. Clin Transl Med 2022; 12:e864. [PMID: 35613708 PMCID: PMC9132725 DOI: 10.1002/ctm2.864] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2022] [Revised: 04/17/2022] [Accepted: 04/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
The genetic load in the human genome has important ramifications for assisted reproductive technology (ART), human reproduction and fertility more generally. Here, we discuss these topics in the light of evolutionary genetic theory, the technological revolution in ART and the advances in the fields of genomics and bioinformatics.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Daniel Marcu
- School of Biological SciencesUniversity of East AngliaNorwichUK
| | - Simone Immler
- School of Biological SciencesUniversity of East AngliaNorwichUK
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Hotzy C, Fowler E, Kiehl B, Francis R, Mason J, Moxon S, Rostant W, Chapman T, Immler S. Evolutionary history of sexual selection affects microRNA profiles in Drosophila sperm. Evolution 2021; 76:310-319. [PMID: 34874067 DOI: 10.1111/evo.14411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2021] [Revised: 10/15/2021] [Accepted: 10/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The presence of small RNAs in sperm is a relatively recent discovery and little is currently known about their importance and functions. Environmental changes including social conditions and dietary manipulations are known to affect the composition and expression of some small RNAs in sperm and may elicit a physiological stress response resulting in an associated change in gamete miRNA profiles. Here, we tested how microRNA profiles in sperm are affected by variation in both sexual selection and dietary regimes in Drosophila melanogaster selection lines. The selection lines were exposed to standard versus low yeast diet treatments and three different population sex ratios (male-biased, female-biased or equal sex) in a full-factorial design. After 38 generations of selection, all males were maintained on their selected diet and in a common garden male-only environment prior to sperm sampling. We performed transcriptome analyses on miRNAs in purified sperm samples. We found 11 differentially expressed miRNAs with the majority showing differences between male- and female-biased lines. Dietary treatment only had a significant effect on miRNA expression levels in interaction with sex ratio. Our findings suggest that long-term adaptation may affect miRNA profiles in sperm and that these may show varied interactions with short-term environmental changes. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cosima Hotzy
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, Uppsala University, Norbyvägen 18D, Uppsala, 752 36, Sweden
| | - Emily Fowler
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, UK
| | - Berrit Kiehl
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, Uppsala University, Norbyvägen 18D, Uppsala, 752 36, Sweden
| | - Roy Francis
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, Uppsala University, Norbyvägen 18D, Uppsala, 752 36, Sweden
| | - Janet Mason
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, UK
| | - Simon Moxon
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, UK
| | - Wayne Rostant
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, UK
| | - Tracey Chapman
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, UK
| | - Simone Immler
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, UK
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Bergero R, Ellis P, Haerty W, Larcombe L, Macaulay I, Mehta T, Mogensen M, Murray D, Nash W, Neale MJ, O'Connor R, Ottolini C, Peel N, Ramsey L, Skinner B, Suh A, Summers M, Sun Y, Tidy A, Rahbari R, Rathje C, Immler S. Meiosis and beyond - understanding the mechanistic and evolutionary processes shaping the germline genome. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2021; 96:822-841. [PMID: 33615674 PMCID: PMC8246768 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2019] [Revised: 12/15/2020] [Accepted: 12/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The separation of germ cell populations from the soma is part of the evolutionary transition to multicellularity. Only genetic information present in the germ cells will be inherited by future generations, and any molecular processes affecting the germline genome are therefore likely to be passed on. Despite its prevalence across taxonomic kingdoms, we are only starting to understand details of the underlying micro-evolutionary processes occurring at the germline genome level. These include segregation, recombination, mutation and selection and can occur at any stage during germline differentiation and mitotic germline proliferation to meiosis and post-meiotic gamete maturation. Selection acting on germ cells at any stage from the diploid germ cell to the haploid gametes may cause significant deviations from Mendelian inheritance and may be more widespread than previously assumed. The mechanisms that affect and potentially alter the genomic sequence and allele frequencies in the germline are pivotal to our understanding of heritability. With the rise of new sequencing technologies, we are now able to address some of these unanswered questions. In this review, we comment on the most recent developments in this field and identify current gaps in our knowledge.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Roberta Bergero
- Institute of Evolutionary BiologyUniversity of EdinburghEdinburghEH9 3JTU.K.
| | - Peter Ellis
- School of BiosciencesUniversity of KentCanterburyCT2 7NJU.K.
| | | | - Lee Larcombe
- Applied Exomics LtdStevenage Bioscience CatalystStevenageSG1 2FXU.K.
| | - Iain Macaulay
- Earlham InstituteNorwich Research ParkNorwichNR4 7UZU.K.
| | - Tarang Mehta
- Earlham InstituteNorwich Research ParkNorwichNR4 7UZU.K.
| | - Mette Mogensen
- School of Biological SciencesUniversity of East AngliaNorwich Research ParkNorwichNR4 7TJU.K.
| | - David Murray
- School of Biological SciencesUniversity of East AngliaNorwich Research ParkNorwichNR4 7TJU.K.
| | - Will Nash
- Earlham InstituteNorwich Research ParkNorwichNR4 7UZU.K.
| | - Matthew J. Neale
- Genome Damage and Stability Centre, School of Life SciencesUniversity of SussexBrightonBN1 9RHU.K.
| | | | | | - Ned Peel
- Earlham InstituteNorwich Research ParkNorwichNR4 7UZU.K.
| | - Luke Ramsey
- The James Hutton InstituteInvergowrieDundeeDD2 5DAU.K.
| | - Ben Skinner
- School of Life SciencesUniversity of EssexColchesterCO4 3SQU.K.
| | - Alexander Suh
- School of Biological SciencesUniversity of East AngliaNorwich Research ParkNorwichNR4 7TJU.K.
- Department of Organismal BiologyUppsala UniversityNorbyvägen 18DUppsala752 36Sweden
| | - Michael Summers
- School of BiosciencesUniversity of KentCanterburyCT2 7NJU.K.
- The Bridge Centre1 St Thomas Street, London BridgeLondonSE1 9RYU.K.
| | - Yu Sun
- Norwich Medical SchoolUniversity of East AngliaNorwich Research Park, Colney LnNorwichNR4 7UGU.K.
| | - Alison Tidy
- School of BiosciencesUniversity of Nottingham, Plant Science, Sutton Bonington CampusSutton BoningtonLE12 5RDU.K.
| | | | - Claudia Rathje
- School of BiosciencesUniversity of KentCanterburyCT2 7NJU.K.
| | - Simone Immler
- School of Biological SciencesUniversity of East AngliaNorwich Research ParkNorwichNR4 7TJU.K.
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Silva WTAF, Otto SP, Immler S. Evolution of plasticity in production and transgenerational inheritance of small RNAs under dynamic environmental conditions. PLoS Genet 2021; 17:e1009581. [PMID: 34038409 PMCID: PMC8186813 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1009581] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2020] [Revised: 06/08/2021] [Accepted: 05/05/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
In a changing environment, small RNAs (sRNAs) play an important role in the post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression and can vary in abundance depending on the conditions experienced by an individual (phenotypic plasticity) and its parents (non-genetic inheritance). Many sRNAs are unusual in that they can be produced in two ways, either using genomic DNA as the template (primary sRNAs) or existing sRNAs as the template (secondary sRNAs). Thus, organisms can evolve rapid plastic responses to their current environment by adjusting the amplification rate of sRNA templates. sRNA levels can also be transmitted transgenerationally by the direct transfer of either sRNAs or the proteins involved in amplification. Theory is needed to describe the selective forces acting on sRNA levels, accounting for the dual nature of sRNAs as regulatory elements and templates for amplification and for the potential to transmit sRNAs and their amplification agents to offspring. Here, we develop a model to study the dynamics of sRNA production and inheritance in a fluctuating environment. We tested the selective advantage of mutants capable of sRNA-mediated phenotypic plasticity within resident populations with fixed levels of sRNA transcription. Even when the resident was allowed to evolve an optimal constant rate of sRNA production, plastic amplification rates capable of responding to environmental conditions were favored. Mechanisms allowing sRNA transcripts or amplification agents to be inherited were favored primarily when parents and offspring face similar environments and when selection acts before the optimal level of sRNA can be reached within the organism. Our study provides a clear set of testable predictions for the evolution of sRNA-related mechanisms of phenotypic plasticity and transgenerational inheritance.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Sarah P. Otto
- Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Simone Immler
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Ivimey-Cook ER, Sales K, Carlsson H, Immler S, Chapman T, Maklakov AA. Transgenerational fitness effects of lifespan extension by dietary restriction in Caenorhabditis elegans. Proc Biol Sci 2021; 288:20210701. [PMID: 33975472 PMCID: PMC8113902 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2021.0701] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2021] [Accepted: 04/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Dietary restriction (DR) increases lifespan in a broad variety of organisms and improves health in humans. However, long-term transgenerational consequences of dietary interventions are poorly understood. Here, we investigated the effect of DR by temporary fasting (TF) on mortality risk, age-specific reproduction and fitness across three generations of descendants in Caenorhabditis elegans. We show that while TF robustly reduces mortality risk and improves late-life reproduction of the individuals subject to TF (P0), it has a wide range of both positive and negative effects on their descendants (F1-F3). Remarkably, great-grandparental exposure to TF in early life reduces fitness and increases mortality risk of F3 descendants to such an extent that TF no longer promotes a lifespan extension. These findings reveal that transgenerational trade-offs accompany the instant benefits of DR, underscoring the need to consider fitness of future generations in pursuit of healthy ageing.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Edward R. Ivimey-Cook
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7TU, UK
| | - Kris Sales
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7TU, UK
| | - Hanne Carlsson
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7TU, UK
| | - Simone Immler
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7TU, UK
| | - Tracey Chapman
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7TU, UK
| | - Alexei A. Maklakov
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7TU, UK
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Abstract
Variation in pre- and post-release gamete environments can influence evolutionary processes by altering fertilization outcomes and offspring traits. It is now widely accepted that offspring inherit epigenetic information from both their mothers and fathers. Genetic and epigenetic alterations to eggs and sperm-acquired post-release may also persist post-fertilization with consequences for offspring developmental success and later-life fitness. In externally fertilizing species, gametes are directly exposed to anthropogenically induced environmental impacts including pollution, ocean acidification and climate change. When fertilization occurs within the female reproductive tract, although gametes are at least partially protected from external environmental variation, the selective environment is likely to vary among females. In both scenarios, gamete traits and selection on gametes can be influenced by environmental conditions such as temperature and pollution as well as intrinsic factors such as male and female reproductive fluids, which may be altered by changes in male and female health and physiology. Here, we highlight some of the pathways through which changes in gamete environments can affect fertilization dynamics, gamete interactions and ultimately offspring fitness. We hope that by drawing attention to this important yet often overlooked source of variation, we will inspire future research into the evolutionary implications of anthropogenic interference of gamete environments including the use of assisted reproductive technologies. This article is part of the theme issue 'How does epigenetics influence the course of evolution?'
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Angela J Crean
- Charles Perkins Centre, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia
| | - Simone Immler
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich NR4 7TJ, UK
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Tusso S, Nieuwenhuis BPS, Weissensteiner B, Immler S, Wolf JBW. Experimental evolution of adaptive divergence under varying degrees of gene flow. Nat Ecol Evol 2021; 5:338-349. [PMID: 33432131 DOI: 10.1038/s41559-020-01363-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2020] [Accepted: 11/12/2020] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Adaptive divergence is the key evolutionary process generating biodiversity by means of natural selection. Yet, the conditions under which it can arise in the presence of gene flow remain contentious. To address this question, we subjected 132 sexually reproducing fission yeast populations, sourced from two independent genetic backgrounds, to disruptive ecological selection and manipulated the level of migration between environments. Contrary to theoretical expectations, adaptive divergence was most pronounced when migration was either absent (allopatry) or maximal (sympatry), but was much reduced at intermediate rates (parapatry and local mating). This effect was apparent across central life-history components (survival, asexual growth and mating) but differed in magnitude between ancestral genetic backgrounds. The evolution of some fitness components was constrained by pervasive negative correlations (trade-off between asexual growth and mating), while others changed direction under the influence of migration (for example, survival and mating). In allopatry, adaptive divergence was mainly conferred by standing genetic variation and resulted in ecological specialization. In sympatry, divergence was mainly mediated by novel mutations enriched in a subset of genes and was characterized by the repeated emergence of two strategies: an ecological generalist and an asexual growth specialist. Multiple loci showed consistent evidence for antagonistic pleiotropy across migration treatments providing a conceptual link between adaptation and divergence. This evolve-and-resequence experiment shows that rapid ecological differentiation can arise even under high rates of gene flow. It further highlights that adaptive trajectories are governed by complex interactions of gene flow, ancestral variation and genetic correlations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sergio Tusso
- Division of Evolutionary Biology, Faculty of Biology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Munich, Munich, Germany. .,Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden. .,Department of Evolutionary Biology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
| | - Bart P S Nieuwenhuis
- Division of Evolutionary Biology, Faculty of Biology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Bernadette Weissensteiner
- Division of Evolutionary Biology, Faculty of Biology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Simone Immler
- Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.,Department of Evolutionary Biology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.,School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK
| | - Jochen B W Wolf
- Division of Evolutionary Biology, Faculty of Biology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Munich, Munich, Germany. .,Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden. .,Department of Evolutionary Biology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Abstract
Sperm competition was defined by Geoff Parker 50 years ago as the competition between sperm from two or more males over the fertilization of a set of eggs. Since the publication of his seminal paper, sperm competition has developed into a large field of research, and many aspects are still being discovered. One of the relatively poorly understood aspects is the importance of selection and competition among sperm within the ejaculate of a male. The sheer number of sperm present in a male's ejaculate suggests that the competition among sibling sperm produced by the same male may be intense. In this review, we summarize Parker's theoretical models generating predictions about the evolution of sperm traits under the control of the haploid gamete as opposed to the diploid male. We review the existing evidence of within-ejaculate competition from a wide range of fields and taxa. We also discuss the conceptual and practical hurdles we have been facing to study within-ejaculate sperm competition, and how novel technologies may help in addressing some of the currently open questions. This article is part of the theme issue ‘Fifty years of sperm competition’.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Sutter
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7TJ, UK
| | - Simone Immler
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7TJ, UK
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Jiménez-Ortega D, Kolm N, Immler S, Maklakov AA, Gonzalez-Voyer A. Long life evolves in large-brained bird lineages. Evolution 2020; 74:2617-2628. [PMID: 32840865 DOI: 10.1111/evo.14087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2020] [Revised: 08/15/2020] [Accepted: 08/18/2020] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
The brain is an energetically costly organ that consumes a disproportionate amount of resources. Species with larger brains relative to their body size have slower life histories, with reduced output per reproductive event and delayed development times that can be offset by increasing behavioral flexibility. The "cognitive buffer" hypothesis maintains that large brain size decreases extrinsic mortality due to greater behavioral flexibility, leading to a longer lifespan. Alternatively, slow life histories, and long lifespan can be a pre-adaptation for the evolution of larger brains. Here, we use phylogenetic path analysis to contrast different evolutionary scenarios and disentangle direct and indirect relationships between brain size, body size, life history, and longevity across 339 altricial and precocial bird species. Our results support both a direct causal link between brain size and lifespan, and an indirect effect via other life history traits. These results indicate that large brain size engenders longer life, as proposed by the "cognitive buffer" hypothesis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dante Jiménez-Ortega
- Instituto de Ecología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, 04510, México.,Posgrado en Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, 04510, México
| | - Niclas Kolm
- Zoology Department, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Simone Immler
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, United Kingdom
| | - Alexei A Maklakov
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, United Kingdom
| | | |
Collapse
|
19
|
Hotzy C, Xuhui B, Larva T, Immler S. Intrinsic post-ejaculation sperm ageing does not affect offspring fitness in Atlantic salmon. J Evol Biol 2020; 33:576-583. [PMID: 31961980 DOI: 10.1111/jeb.13590] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2019] [Revised: 01/07/2020] [Accepted: 01/10/2020] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Post-meiotic sperm ageing, both before ejaculation and after ejaculation, has been shown to negatively affect offspring fitness by lowering the rate of embryonic development, reducing embryonic viability and decreasing offspring condition. These negative effects are thought to be caused by intrinsic factors such as oxidative stress and ATP depletion or extrinsic factors such as temperature and osmosis. Effects of post-ejaculation sperm ageing on offspring fitness have so far almost exclusively been tested in internal fertilizers. Here, we tested whether intrinsic post-ejaculation sperm ageing affects offspring performance in an external fertilizer, the Atlantic salmon Salmo salar. We performed in vitro fertilizations with a split-clutch design where sperm were subjected to four post-ejaculation ageing treatments. We varied the duration between sperm activation and fertilization while minimizing extrinsic stress factors and tested how this affected offspring fitness. We found no evidence for an effect of our treatments on embryo survival, hatching time, larval standard length, early larval survival or larval growth rate, indicating that intrinsic post-ejaculation sperm ageing may not occur in Atlantic salmon. One reason may be the short life span of salmon sperm after ejaculation. Whether our findings are true in other external fertilizers with extended sperm activity remains to be tested.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cosima Hotzy
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Bao Xuhui
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Tuuli Larva
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Simone Immler
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Abstract
Evolutionary rates and strength of selection differ markedly between haploid and diploid genomes. Any genes expressed in a haploid state will be directly exposed to selection, whereas alleles in a diploid state may be partially or fully masked by a homologous allele. This difference may shape key evolutionary processes, including rates of adaptation and inbreeding depression, but also the evolution of sex chromosomes, heterochiasmy, and stable sex ratio biases. All diploid organisms carry haploid genomes, most notably the haploid genomes in gametes produced by every sexually reproducing eukaryote. Furthermore, haploid expression occurs in genes with monoallelic expression, in sex chromosomes, and in organelles, such as mitochondria and plastids. A comparison of evolutionary rates among these haploid genomes reveals striking parallels. Evidence suggests that haploid selection has the potential to shape evolution in predominantly diploid organisms, and taking advantage of the rapidly developing technologies, we are now in the position to quantify the importance of such selection on haploid genomes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Simone Immler
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich NR4 7TJ, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
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.
Collapse
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
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Silva WTAF, Sáez-Espinosa P, Torijo-Boix S, Romero A, Devaux C, Durieux M, Gómez-Torres MJ, Immler S. The effects of male social environment on sperm phenotype and genome integrity. J Evol Biol 2019; 32:535-544. [PMID: 30817032 PMCID: PMC6850410 DOI: 10.1111/jeb.13435] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2019] [Accepted: 02/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Sperm function and quality are primary determinants of male reproductive performance and hence fitness. The presence of rival males has been shown to affect ejaculate and sperm traits in a wide range of taxa. However, male physiological conditions may not only affect sperm phenotypic traits but also their genetic and epigenetic signatures, affecting the fitness of the resulting offspring. We investigated the effects of male‐male competition on sperm quality using TUNEL assays and geometric morphometrics in the zebrafish, Danio rerio. We found that the sperm produced by males exposed to high male–male competition had smaller heads but larger midpiece and flagellum than sperm produced by males under low competition. Head and flagella also appeared less sensitive to the osmotic stress induced by activation with water. In addition, more sperm showed signals of DNA damage in ejaculates of males under high competition. These findings suggest that the presence of a rival male may have positive effects on sperm phenotypic traits but negative effects on sperm DNA integrity. Overall, males facing the presence of rival males may produce faster swimming and more competitive sperm but this may come at a cost for the next generation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Alejandro Romero
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Alicante, Alicante, Spain
| | - Caroline Devaux
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK
| | - Mathilde Durieux
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK
| | - María José Gómez-Torres
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Alicante, Alicante, Spain.,Cátedra Human Fertility, University of Alicante, Alicante, Spain
| | - Simone Immler
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.,School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Alavioon G, Cabrera Garcia A, LeChatelier M, Maklakov AA, Immler S. Selection for longer lived sperm within ejaculate reduces reproductive ageing in offspring. Evol Lett 2019; 3:198-206. [PMID: 31289692 PMCID: PMC6591544 DOI: 10.1002/evl3.101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2018] [Accepted: 01/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Males produce numerous sperm in a single ejaculate that greatly outnumber their potential egg targets. Recent studies found that phenotypic and genotypic variation among sperm in a single ejaculate of a male affects the fitness and performance of the resulting offspring. Specifically, within-ejaculate sperm selection for sperm longevity increased the performance of the resulting offspring in several key life-history traits in early life. Because increased early-life reproductive performance often correlates with rapid ageing, it is possible that within-ejaculate sperm selection increases early-life fitness at the cost of accelerated senescence. Alternatively, within-ejaculate sperm selection could improve offspring quality throughout the life cycle, including reduced age-specific deterioration. We tested the two alternative hypotheses in an experimental setup using zebrafish Danio rerio. We found that within-ejaculate sperm selection for sperm longevity reduced age-specific deterioration of fecundity and offspring survival but had no effect on fertilization success in males. Remarkably, we found an opposing effect of within-ejaculate sperm selection on female fecundity, where selection for sperm longevity resulted in increased early-life performance followed by a slow decline, while females sired by unselected sperm started low but increased their fecundity with age. Intriguingly, within-ejaculate sperm selection also reduced the age-specific decline in fertilization success in females, suggesting that selection for sperm longevity improves at least some aspects of female reproductive ageing. These results demonstrate that within-ejaculate variation in sperm phenotype contributes to individual variation in animal life histories in the two sexes and may have important implications for assisted fertilization programs in livestock and humans.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ghazal Alavioon
- Department of Ecology and Genetics, Evolutionary Biology Centre Uppsala University Norbyvägen 18D 75 236 Uppsala Sweden
| | - Andrea Cabrera Garcia
- Department of Ecology and Genetics, Evolutionary Biology Centre Uppsala University Norbyvägen 18D 75 236 Uppsala Sweden
| | - Magali LeChatelier
- Department of Ecology and Genetics, Evolutionary Biology Centre Uppsala University Norbyvägen 18D 75 236 Uppsala Sweden
| | - Alexei A Maklakov
- Department of Ecology and Genetics, Evolutionary Biology Centre Uppsala University Norbyvägen 18D 75 236 Uppsala Sweden.,School of Biological Sciences University of East Anglia Norwich Research Park Norwich NR4 7TJ United Kingdom
| | - Simone Immler
- Department of Ecology and Genetics, Evolutionary Biology Centre Uppsala University Norbyvägen 18D 75 236 Uppsala Sweden.,School of Biological Sciences University of East Anglia Norwich Research Park Norwich NR4 7TJ United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Levine H, Mohri H, Ekbom A, Ramos L, Parker G, Roldan E, Jovine L, Koelle S, Lindstrand A, Immler S, Mortimer S, Mortimer D, van der Horst G, Ishijima S, Aneck-Hahn N, Baldi E, Menkveld R, Rothmann SA, Giwercman A, Giwercman Y, Holmberg M, Kvist U, Björndahl L, Holmberg R, Arver S, Flanagan J, Drevet JR. Male reproductive health statement (XIIIth international symposium on Spermatology, may 9th-12th 2018, Stockholm, Sweden. Basic Clin Androl 2018; 28:13. [PMID: 30397480 PMCID: PMC6205799 DOI: 10.1186/s12610-018-0077-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2018] [Accepted: 10/03/2018] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
On the occasion of the XIIIth International Symposium on Spermatology held from 9 to 13 May 2018 in Stockholm (Sweden), participants (guest speakers and audience) collectively felt the need to make a public statement on the general issue of male reproductive health. Our intention is to raise awareness of what we believe is a neglected area of research despite alarming situations around the world. The disclosure strategy desired by the co-authors is to bring it to the attention of the greatest number partly by considering co-publication in the various periodicals dealing with Reproductive Biology and Andrology. BaCA’s editorial office accepted this mission and found it natural that our periodical, the official journal of the French Andrology Society (SALF), should carry this message.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hagai Levine
- 1Environmental Health Track, School of Public Health, Hebrew University-Hadassah, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Hideo Mohri
- 2University of Tokyo and National Institute for Basic Biology, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Anders Ekbom
- 3Department of Medicine, Karolinska Institute, Solna, Sweden
| | - Liliana Ramos
- 4Department of Gynaecology and Reproduction, Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | | | - Eduardo Roldan
- 6Department of Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology, Reproductive Ecology and Biology Group, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (CSIC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Luca Jovine
- 7Department of Biosciences and Nutrition & Center for Innovative Medicine, Karolinska Institute, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Sabine Koelle
- 8Anatomy & Developmental Biology, School of Medicine, Health Science Centre, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Anna Lindstrand
- 9Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Clinical Genetics, Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Simone Immler
- 10School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, UK
| | - Sharon Mortimer
- Oozoa Biomedical, Vancouver, Canada.,12University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW Australia
| | - David Mortimer
- Oozoa Biomedical, Vancouver, Canada.,13University of Dundee, Scotland, UK
| | - Gerhard van der Horst
- 14Physiology Medical School and Department of Animal Science, Stellenbosch University, National Zoological Gardens, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Sumio Ishijima
- 15School of Life Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Natalie Aneck-Hahn
- 16Environmental Chemical Pollution and Health Research Unit, Medical Natural Sciences (Urology), Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Elisabetta Baldi
- 17Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Firenze, Italy
| | - Roelof Menkveld
- 18Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch Universtity, Tygerberg, South Africa
| | | | | | - Yvonne Giwercman
- 20Department of Translational Medicine, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden
| | - Mats Holmberg
- 21Department of Medicine, ANOVA - Andrology, Sexual Medicine, and Transmedicine, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Ulrik Kvist
- 21Department of Medicine, ANOVA - Andrology, Sexual Medicine, and Transmedicine, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Lars Björndahl
- 21Department of Medicine, ANOVA - Andrology, Sexual Medicine, and Transmedicine, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Rebecka Holmberg
- 21Department of Medicine, ANOVA - Andrology, Sexual Medicine, and Transmedicine, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Stefan Arver
- 21Department of Medicine, ANOVA - Andrology, Sexual Medicine, and Transmedicine, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - John Flanagan
- 21Department of Medicine, ANOVA - Andrology, Sexual Medicine, and Transmedicine, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Joël R Drevet
- 22GReD Laboratory INSERM U1103 - CNRS UMR6293, Faculty de Medicine, CRBC, Université Clermont Auvergne (UCA), 63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Abstract
As an immediate consequence of sexual reproduction, biphasic life cycles with alternating diploid and haploid phases are a common characteristic of sexually reproducing eukaryotes. Much of our focus in evolutionary biology has been directed toward dynamics in diploid or haploid populations, but we rarely consider selection occurring during both phases when studying evolutionary processes. One of the reasons for this apparent omission is the fact that many flowering plants and metazoans are predominantly diploid with a very short haploid gametic phase. While this gametic phase may be short, it can play a crucial role in fundamental processes including the rate of adaptation, the load of mutation, and the evolution of features such as recombination. In addition, if selection acts in different directions between the two phases, a genetic conflict will occur, impacting the maintenance of genetic variation. Here we provide an overview of theoretical and empirical studies investigating the importance of selection at the haploid gametic phase in predominantly diploid organisms and discuss future directions to improve our understanding of the underlying dynamics and the general implications of haploid selection.
Collapse
|
26
|
Maklakov AA, Carlsson H, Denbaum P, Lind MI, Mautz B, Hinas A, Immler S. Antagonistically pleiotropic allele increases lifespan and late-life reproduction at the cost of early-life reproduction and individual fitness. Proc Biol Sci 2018; 284:rspb.2017.0376. [PMID: 28615498 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2017.0376] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2017] [Accepted: 05/15/2017] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Evolutionary theory of ageing maintains that increased allocation to early-life reproduction results in reduced somatic maintenance, which is predicted to compromise longevity and late-life reproduction. This prediction has been challenged by the discovery of long-lived mutants with no loss of fecundity. The first such long-lived mutant was found in the nematode worm Caenorhabditis elegans Specifically, partial loss-of-function mutation in the age-1 gene, involved in the nutrient-sensing insulin/insulin-like growth factor signalling pathway, confers longevity, as well as increased resistance to pathogens and to temperature stress without appreciable fitness detriment. Here, we show that the long-lived age-1(hx546) mutant has reduced fecundity and offspring production in early-life, but increased fecundity, hatching success, and offspring production in late-life compared with wild-type worms under standard conditions. However, reduced early-life performance of long-lived mutant animals was not fully compensated by improved performance in late-life and resulted in reduced individual fitness. These results suggest that the age-1(hx546) allele has opposing effects on early-life versus late-life fitness in accordance with antagonistic pleiotropy (AP) and disposable soma theories of ageing. These findings support the theoretical conjecture that experimental studies based on standing genetic variation underestimate the importance of AP in the evolution of ageing.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alexei A Maklakov
- Department of Animal Ecology, Evolutionary Biology Centre, Uppsala University, Norbyvagen 18D, Uppsala 752 36, Sweden .,School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7TJ, Norfolk, UK
| | - Hanne Carlsson
- Department of Animal Ecology, Evolutionary Biology Centre, Uppsala University, Norbyvagen 18D, Uppsala 752 36, Sweden
| | - Philip Denbaum
- Department of Animal Ecology, Evolutionary Biology Centre, Uppsala University, Norbyvagen 18D, Uppsala 752 36, Sweden
| | - Martin I Lind
- Department of Animal Ecology, Evolutionary Biology Centre, Uppsala University, Norbyvagen 18D, Uppsala 752 36, Sweden
| | - Brian Mautz
- Department of Animal Ecology, Evolutionary Biology Centre, Uppsala University, Norbyvagen 18D, Uppsala 752 36, Sweden
| | - Andrea Hinas
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Uppsala University, PO Box 596, Uppsala 75124, Sweden
| | - Simone Immler
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, Evolutionary Biology Centre, Uppsala University, Norbyvagen 18D, Uppsala 752 36, Sweden.,School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7TJ, Norfolk, UK
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Zajitschek S, Herbert-Read JE, Abbasi NM, Zajitschek F, Immler S. Paternal personality and social status influence offspring activity in zebrafish. BMC Evol Biol 2017; 17:157. [PMID: 28673261 PMCID: PMC5496241 DOI: 10.1186/s12862-017-1005-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2017] [Accepted: 06/23/2017] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Evidence for the transmission of non-genetic information from father to offspring is rapidly accumulating. While the impact of chemical and physical factors such as toxins or diet on the fitness of the parents and their offspring have been studied extensively, the importance of behavioural and social circumstances has only recently been recognised. Behavioural traits such as personality characteristics can be relatively stable, and partly comprise a genetic component but we know little about the non-genetic transmission of plastic behavioural traits from parents to offspring. We investigated the relative effect of personality and of social dominance as indicators at the opposite ends of the plasticity range on offspring behaviour in the zebrafish (Danio rerio). We assessed male boldness, a behavioural trait that has previously been shown previously to possess genetic underpinnings, and experimentally manipulated male social status to assess the association between the two types of behaviour and their correlation with offspring activity. RESULTS We found a clear interaction between the relatively stable and putative genetic effects based on inherited differences in personality and the experimentally induced epigenetic effects from changes in the social status of the father on offspring activity. CONCLUSIONS Our study shows that offspring behaviour is determined by a combination of paternal personality traits and on-genetic effects derived from the social status of the father.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Susanne Zajitschek
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, NR4 7TJ Norwich, UK
- Department of Ecology and Genetics, Uppsala University, Norbyvägen 18D, 752 36 Uppsala, Sweden
- Doñana Biological Station EBD-CSIC, C/Americo Vespucio s/n, 41092, Isla de la Cartuja, Sevilla, Spain
| | - James E. Herbert-Read
- Department of Mathematics, Uppsala University, Lägerhyddsvägen 1, 751 06 Uppsala, Sweden
- Department of Zoology, Stockholm University, 10691 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Nasir M. Abbasi
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, NR4 7TJ Norwich, UK
- Department of Ecology and Genetics, Uppsala University, Norbyvägen 18D, 752 36 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Felix Zajitschek
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Building 18, Clayton, VIC 3800 Australia
| | - Simone Immler
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, NR4 7TJ Norwich, UK
- Department of Ecology and Genetics, Uppsala University, Norbyvägen 18D, 752 36 Uppsala, Sweden
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Affiliation(s)
| | - Simone Immler
- Department of Evolutionary Biology; Uppsala University; Uppsala Sweden
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Immler S, Otto SP. Erratum. Am Nat 2015; 186:820-1. [DOI: 10.1086/683773] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
|
30
|
Kotrschal A, Corral-Lopez A, Zajitschek S, Immler S, Maklakov AA, Kolm N. Positive genetic correlation between brain size and sexual traits in male guppies artificially selected for brain size. J Evol Biol 2015; 28:841-50. [PMID: 25705852 PMCID: PMC4949642 DOI: 10.1111/jeb.12608] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2014] [Accepted: 02/17/2015] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Brain size is an energetically costly trait to develop and maintain. Investments into other costly aspects of an organism's biology may therefore place important constraints on brain size evolution. Sexual traits are often costly and could therefore be traded off against neural investment. However, brain size may itself be under sexual selection through mate choice on cognitive ability. Here, we use guppy (Poecilia reticulata) lines selected for large and small brain size relative to body size to investigate the relationship between brain size, a large suite of male primary and secondary sexual traits, and body condition index. We found no evidence for trade-offs between brain size and sexual traits. Instead, larger-brained males had higher expression of several primary and precopulatory sexual traits--they had longer genitalia, were more colourful and developed longer tails than smaller-brained males. Larger-brained males were also in better body condition when housed in single-sex groups. There was no difference in post-copulatory sexual traits between males from the large- and small-brained lines. Our data do not support the hypothesis that investment into sexual traits is an important limiting factor to brain size evolution, but instead suggest that brain size and several sexual traits are positively genetically correlated.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- A Kotrschal
- Department of Animal Ecology, Evolutionary Biology Centre, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden; Department of Zoology/Ethology, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
31
|
Förster KM, Immler S, Ensslen M, Flemmer A, Schulze A, von Poblotzki M, Genzel-Boroviczény O, Heinen F, Hilgendorff A. [Indications and concept of follow-up care of home-monitoring for premature and risk infants]. Klin Padiatr 2015; 227:72-9. [PMID: 25751680 DOI: 10.1055/s-0034-1395663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
The pros and cons of home monitoring especially for premature infants with continuing apneic episodes and/or chronic lung disease are an ongoing discussion. The controversy spans socio-economic requirements, medical indication as well as patient and family needs. Here, the costs of home monitoring and follow-up care on the one hand and longer hospitalization times on the other need to be considered. This article aims to create a basis for this discussion by summarizing current evidence for the indications and considerations for differential diagnoses while also outlining the established follow-up program for these patients at the Dr. v. Hauner Children's Hospital at the Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Germany.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- K M Förster
- Neonatologie des Dr. von Haunerschen Kinderspitals der Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München am Perinatalzentrum Campus Großhadern, Klinikum der Universität, München
| | - S Immler
- Neonatologie des Dr. von Haunerschen Kinderspitals der Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München am Perinatalzentrum Campus Innenstadt, Klinikum der Universität, München
| | - M Ensslen
- Pädiatrische Neurologie, Entwicklungsneurologie und Sozialpädiatrie im Dr. von Haunerschen Kinderspital der Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Campus Innenstadt, Klinikum der Universität, München
| | - A Flemmer
- Neonatologie des Dr. von Haunerschen Kinderspitals der Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München am Perinatalzentrum Campus Großhadern, Klinikum der Universität, München
| | - A Schulze
- Neonatologie des Dr. von Haunerschen Kinderspitals der Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München am Perinatalzentrum Campus Großhadern, Klinikum der Universität, München
| | - M von Poblotzki
- Neonatologie des Dr. von Haunerschen Kinderspitals der Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München am Perinatalzentrum Campus Innenstadt, Klinikum der Universität, München
| | - O Genzel-Boroviczény
- Neonatologie des Dr. von Haunerschen Kinderspitals der Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München am Perinatalzentrum Campus Innenstadt, Klinikum der Universität, München
| | - F Heinen
- Pädiatrische Neurologie, Entwicklungsneurologie und Sozialpädiatrie im Dr. von Haunerschen Kinderspital der Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Campus Innenstadt, Klinikum der Universität, München
| | - A Hilgendorff
- Neonatologie des Dr. von Haunerschen Kinderspitals der Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München am Perinatalzentrum Campus Großhadern, Klinikum der Universität, München
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Abstract
The evolution of dimorphic sex chromosomes is driven largely by the evolution of reduced recombination and the subsequent accumulation of deleterious mutations. Although these processes are increasingly well understood in diploid organisms, the evolution of dimorphic sex chromosomes in haploid organisms (U/V) has been virtually unstudied theoretically. We analyze a model to investigate the evolution of linkage between fitness loci and the sex-determining region in U/V species. In a second step, we test how prone nonrecombining regions are to degeneration due to accumulation of deleterious mutations. Our modeling predicts that the decay of recombination on the sex chromosomes and the addition of strata via fusions will be just as much a part of the evolution of haploid sex chromosomes as in diploid sex chromosome systems. Reduced recombination is broadly favored, as long as there is some fitness difference between haploid males and females. The degeneration of the sex-determining region due to the accumulation of deleterious mutations is expected to be slower in haploid organisms because of the absence of masking. Nevertheless, balancing selection often drives greater differentiation between the U/V sex chromosomes than in X/Y and Z/W systems. We summarize empirical evidence for haploid sex chromosome evolution and discuss our predictions in light of these findings.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Simone Immler
- Department of Ecology and Genetics, Evolutionary Biology, Uppsala University, Norbyvägen 18D, SE-752 36, Uppsala, Sweden.
| | | |
Collapse
|
33
|
Zajitschek S, Hotzy C, Zajitschek F, Immler S. Short-term variation in sperm competition causes sperm-mediated epigenetic effects on early offspring performance in the zebrafish. Proc Biol Sci 2014; 281:20140422. [PMID: 24789902 PMCID: PMC4024299 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2014.0422] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2014] [Accepted: 04/01/2014] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The inheritance of non-genetic factors is increasingly seen to play a major role in ecology and evolution. While the causes and consequences of epigenetic effects transmitted from the mother to the offspring have received ample attention, much less is known about how variation in the condition of the father affects the offspring. Here, we manipulated the intensity of sperm competition experienced by male zebrafish Danio rerio to investigate the potential for sperm-mediated epigenetic effects over a relatively short period of time. We found that the rapid responses of males to varying intensity of sperm competition not only affected sperm traits as shown previously, but also the performance of the resulting offspring. We observed that males exposed to high intensity of sperm competition produced faster swimming and more motile sperm, and sired offspring that hatched over a narrower time frame but exhibited a lower survival rate than males exposed to low intensity of sperm competition. Our results provide striking evidence for short-term paternal effects and the possible fitness consequences of such sperm-mediated non-genetic factors not only for the resulting offspring but also for the female.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Susanne Zajitschek
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, Uppsala University, Norbyvägen 18D, Uppsala 752 36, Sweden
| | - Cosima Hotzy
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, Uppsala University, Norbyvägen 18D, Uppsala 752 36, Sweden
| | - Felix Zajitschek
- Department of Animal Ecology, Evolutionary Biology Centre, Uppsala University, Norbyvägen 18D, Uppsala 752 36, Sweden
| | - Simone Immler
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, Uppsala University, Norbyvägen 18D, Uppsala 752 36, Sweden
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Immler S, Hotzy C, Alavioon G, Petersson E, Arnqvist G. Sperm variation within a single ejaculate affects offspring development in Atlantic salmon. Biol Lett 2014; 10:20131040. [PMID: 24522632 DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2013.1040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
It is generally believed that variation in sperm phenotype within a single ejaculate has no consequences for offspring performance, because sperm phenotypes are thought not to reflect sperm genotypes. We show that variation in individual sperm function within an ejaculate affects the performance of the resulting offspring in the Atlantic salmon Salmo salar. We experimentally manipulated the time between sperm activation and fertilization in order to select for sperm cohorts differing in longevity within single ejaculates of wild caught male salmon. We found that within-ejaculate variation in sperm longevity significantly affected offspring development and hence time until hatching. Whether these effects have a genetic or epigenetic basis needs to be further evaluated. However, our results provide experimental evidence for transgenerational effects of individual sperm function.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Simone Immler
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, Uppsala University, , Norbyvägen 18D, Uppsala 752 36, Sweden
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
35
|
Abstract
Sexual reproduction in eukaryotes implies a biphasic life cycle with alternating haploid and diploid phases. The nature of the biphasic life cycle varies markedly across taxa, and often either the diploid or the haploid phase is predominant. Why some taxa spend a major part of their life cycle as diploids and others as haploids remains a conundrum. Furthermore, ploidy levels may not only vary across life cycle phases but may also differ between males and females. The existence of two life cycle phases and two sexes bears a high potential for antagonistic selection, which in turn may influence the evolution of ploidy levels. We explored the evolution of ploidy levels when selection depends on both ploidy and sex. Our analyses show that antagonistic selection may drive the ploidy levels between males and females apart. In a subsequent step, we explicitly explored the evolution of arrhenotoky (i.e., haploid males and diploid females) in the context of antagonistic selection. Our model shows that selection on arrhenotoky depends on male fitness but evolves regardless of the fitness consequences to females. Overall we provide a plausible explanation for the evolution of sex differences in ploidy levels, a principle that can be extended to any system with asymmetric inheritance.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Simone Immler
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, Evolutionary Biology Center, Uppsala University, Norbyvägen 18D, SE-752 36 Uppsala, Sweden
| | | |
Collapse
|
36
|
Maklakov AA, Immler S, Gonzalez-Voyer A, Rönn J, Kolm N. Brains and the city in passerine birds: re-analysis and confirmation of the original result. Biol Lett 2013; 9:20130859. [PMID: 24227048 DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2013.0859] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Alexei A Maklakov
- Department of Animal Ecology, Evolutionary Biology Centre, Uppsala University, , Uppsala, Sweden
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
37
|
Kotrschal A, Rogell B, Bundsen A, Svensson B, Zajitschek S, Brännström I, Immler S, Maklakov AA, Kolm N. The benefit of evolving a larger brain: big-brained guppies perform better in a cognitive task. Anim Behav 2013; 86:e4-e6. [PMID: 24109149 PMCID: PMC3791419 DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2013.07.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2013] [Revised: 06/28/2013] [Accepted: 07/15/2013] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
We previously selected for large and small brain size in guppies. Large-brained females outperformed small-brained females in a learning task. Healy and Rowe challenged our interpretations of larger brains = better learning. Here we argue why we think they are mistaken.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Kotrschal
- Animal Ecology, Department of Ecology and Genetics, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
38
|
Maklakov AA, Immler S, Løvlie H, Flis I, Friberg U. The effect of sexual harassment on lethal mutation rate in female Drosophila melanogaster. Proc Biol Sci 2013; 280:20121874. [PMID: 23173200 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2012.1874] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The rate by which new mutations are introduced into a population may have far-reaching implications for processes at the population level. Theory assumes that all individuals within a population have the same mutation rate, but this assumption may not be true. Compared with individuals in high condition, those in poor condition may have fewer resources available to invest in DNA repair, resulting in elevated mutation rates. Alternatively, environmentally induced stress can result in increased investment in DNA repair at the expense of reproduction. Here, we directly test whether sexual harassment by males, known to reduce female condition, affects female capacity to alleviate DNA damage in Drosophila melanogaster fruitflies. Female gametes can repair double-strand DNA breaks in sperm, which allows manipulating mutation rate independently from female condition. We show that male harassment strongly not only reduces female fecundity, but also reduces the yield of dominant lethal mutations, supporting the hypothesis that stressed organisms invest relatively more in repair mechanisms. We discuss our results in the light of previous research and suggest that social effects such as density and courtship can play an important and underappreciated role in mediating condition-dependent mutation rate.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alexei A Maklakov
- Ageing Research Group, Department of Animal Ecology, Evolutionary Biology Centre, Norbyvägen 18d, 752 36 Uppsala, Sweden.
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
39
|
Abstract
Postzygotic isolation may be important for maintaining species boundaries, particularly when premating barriers are incomplete. Little is known about the course of events leading from minor environmental mismatches affecting hybrid fitness to severe genetic incompatibilities causing sterility or inviability. We investigated whether reduced reproductive success of hybrid males was caused by suboptimal sperm traits or by more severe genetic incompatibilities in a hybrid zone of pied (Ficedula hypoleuca) and collared flycatchers (F. albicollis) on the island of Öland, Sweden. About 4 per cent hybridization is observed in this population and all female hybrids are sterile. We found no sperm in the ejaculates of most sampled hybrid males, and sperm with abnormal morphology in two hybrids. Furthermore, none of the hybrids sired any offspring because of high levels of hatching failure and extra-pair paternity in their nests. These results from a natural hybrid zone suggest that the spermatogenesis of hybrid males may become disrupted despite little genetic divergence between the parental species.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Murielle Alund
- Department of Animal Ecology, Evolutionary Biology Centre, Uppsala University, Norbyvägen 18D, 75236 Uppsala, Sweden.
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
40
|
Hough J, Immler S, Barrett SCH, Otto SP. EVOLUTIONARILY STABLE SEX RATIOS AND MUTATION LOAD. Evolution 2013; 67:1915-25. [DOI: 10.1111/evo.12066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2012] [Accepted: 01/09/2013] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Josh Hough
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology; University of Toronto; 25 Willcocks Street Toronto Ontario Canada M5S 3B2
| | - Simone Immler
- Department of Ecology and Genetics; Evolutionary Biology; Uppsala University; Norbyvägen 18D Uppsala 75236 Sweden
| | - Spencer C. H. Barrett
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology; University of Toronto; 25 Willcocks Street Toronto Ontario Canada M5S 3B2
| | - Sarah P. Otto
- Department of Zoology and Biodiversity Research Centre; University of British Columbia; 6270 University Blvd. Vancouver British Columbia Canada V6T 1Z4
| |
Collapse
|
41
|
Kotrschal A, Rogell B, Bundsen A, Svensson B, Zajitschek S, Brännström I, Immler S, Maklakov A, Kolm N. Artificial selection on relative brain size in the guppy reveals costs and benefits of evolving a larger brain. Curr Biol 2013; 23:168-71. [PMID: 23290552 PMCID: PMC3566478 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2012.11.058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 297] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2012] [Revised: 11/09/2012] [Accepted: 11/29/2012] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
The large variation in brain size that exists in the animal kingdom has been suggested to have evolved through the balance between selective advantages of greater cognitive ability and the prohibitively high energy demands of a larger brain (the “expensive-tissue hypothesis” [1]). Despite over a century of research on the evolution of brain size, empirical support for the trade-off between cognitive ability and energetic costs is based exclusively on correlative evidence [2], and the theory remains controversial [3, 4]. Here we provide experimental evidence for costs and benefits of increased brain size. We used artificial selection for large and small brain size relative to body size in a live-bearing fish, the guppy (Poecilia reticulata), and found that relative brain size evolved rapidly in response to divergent selection in both sexes. Large-brained females outperformed small-brained females in a numerical learning assay designed to test cognitive ability. Moreover, large-brained lines, especially males, developed smaller guts, as predicted by the expensive-tissue hypothesis [1], and produced fewer offspring. We propose that the evolution of brain size is mediated by a functional trade-off between increased cognitive ability and reproductive performance and discuss the implications of these findings for vertebrate brain evolution.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Kotrschal
- Animal Ecology, Department of Ecology and Genetics, Uppsala University, Norbyvägen 18D, 752 36 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Björn Rogell
- Animal Ecology, Department of Ecology and Genetics, Uppsala University, Norbyvägen 18D, 752 36 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Andreas Bundsen
- Animal Ecology, Department of Ecology and Genetics, Uppsala University, Norbyvägen 18D, 752 36 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Beatrice Svensson
- Animal Ecology, Department of Ecology and Genetics, Uppsala University, Norbyvägen 18D, 752 36 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Susanne Zajitschek
- Evolutionary Biology, Department of Ecology and Genetics, Uppsala University, Norbyvägen 18D, 752 36 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Ioana Brännström
- Animal Ecology, Department of Ecology and Genetics, Uppsala University, Norbyvägen 18D, 752 36 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Simone Immler
- Evolutionary Biology, Department of Ecology and Genetics, Uppsala University, Norbyvägen 18D, 752 36 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Alexei A. Maklakov
- Animal Ecology, Department of Ecology and Genetics, Uppsala University, Norbyvägen 18D, 752 36 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Niclas Kolm
- Animal Ecology, Department of Ecology and Genetics, Uppsala University, Norbyvägen 18D, 752 36 Uppsala, Sweden
- Corresponding author
| |
Collapse
|
42
|
Abstract
The striking diversity of sperm shape across the animal kingdom is still poorly understood. Postcopulatory sexual selection is an important factor driving the evolution of sperm size and shape. Interestingly, morphometric sperm traits, such as the length of the head, midpiece and flagellum, exhibit a strong positive phenotypic correlation across species. Here we used recently developed comparative methods to investigate how such phenotypic correlations between morphometric sperm traits may evolve. We compare allometric relationships and evolutionary trajectories of three morphometric sperm traits (length of head, midpiece and flagellum) in passerine birds. We show that these traits exhibit strong phenotypic correlations but that allometry varies across families. In addition, the evolutionary trajectories of the midpiece and flagellum are similar while the trajectory for head length differs. We discuss our findings in the light of three scenarios accounting for correlated trait evolution: (i) genetic correlation; (ii) concerted response to selection acting simultaneously on different traits; and (iii) phenotypic correlation between traits driven by mechanistic constraints owing to selection on sperm performance. Our results suggest that concerted response to selection is the most likely explanation for the phenotypic correlation between morphometric sperm traits.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Simone Immler
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, , Western Bank, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK.
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
43
|
Abstract
Understanding the maintenance of genetic variation in the face of selection remains a key issue in evolutionary biology. One potential mechanism for the maintenance of genetic variation is opposing selection during the diploid and haploid stages of biphasic life cycles universal among eukaryotic sexual organisms. If haploid and diploid gene expression both occur, selection can act in each phase, potentially in opposing directions. In addition, sex-specific selection during haploid phases is likely simply because male and female gametophytes/gametes tend to have contrasting life histories. We explored the potential for the maintenance of a stable polymorphism under ploidally antagonistic as well as sex-specific selection. Furthermore, we examined the role of the chromosomal location of alleles (autosomal or sex-linked). Our analyses show that the most permissible conditions for the maintenance of polymorphism occur under negative ploidy-by-sex interactions, where stronger selection for an allele in female than male diploids is coupled with weaker selection against the allele in female than male haploids. Such ploidy-by-sex interactions also promote allele frequency differences between the sexes. With constant fitness, ploidally antagonistic selection can maintain stable polymorphisms for autosomal and X-linked genes but not for Y-linked genes. We discuss the implications of our results and outline a number of biological settings where the scenarios modeled may apply.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Simone Immler
- Department of Ecology and Genetics, Evolutionary Biology, Uppsala University, Norbyvägen 18D, 752 36 Uppsala, Sweden.
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
44
|
Abstract
Urban regions are among the most human-altered environments on Earth and they are poised for rapid expansion following population growth and migration. Identifying the biological traits that determine which species are likely to succeed in urbanized habitats is important for predicting global trends in biodiversity. We provide the first evidence for the intuitive yet untested hypothesis that relative brain size is a key factor predisposing animals to successful establishment in cities. We apply phylogenetic mixed modelling in a Bayesian framework to show that passerine species that succeed in colonizing at least one of 12 European cities are more likely to belong to big-brained lineages than species avoiding these urban areas. These data support findings linking relative brain size with the ability to persist in novel and changing environments in vertebrate populations, and have important implications for our understanding of recent trends in biodiversity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alexei A Maklakov
- Animal Ecology, Department of Ecology and Genetics, Evolutionary Biology Centre, Norbyvägen 18d, SE-752 36 Uppsala, Sweden.
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
45
|
Immler S, Hamilton MB, Poslusny NJ, Birkhead TR, Epifanio JM. Post-mating reproductive barriers in two unidirectionally hybridizing sunfish (Centrarchidae: Lepomis). J Evol Biol 2010; 24:111-20. [PMID: 21029236 DOI: 10.1111/j.1420-9101.2010.02142.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The evolutionary sequence of events in the evolution of reproductive barriers between species is at the core of speciation biology. Where premating barriers fail, post-mating barriers, such as conspecific sperm precedence (CSP), gamete incompatibility (GI) and hybrid inviability (HI) may evolve to prevent the production of (often) costly hybrid offspring with reduced fitness. We tested the role of post-mating mechanisms for the reproductive isolation between two sunfish species [bluegill (BG) Lepomis macrochirus and pumpkinseed (PS) Lepomis gibbosus] and their first-generation hybrids. Performing in vitro sperm competition experiments, we observed asymmetric CSP as main post-mating isolation mechanism when BG and PS sperm were competing for PS eggs, whereas when sperm from both species were competing for BG eggs it was HI. Furthermore, hybrid sperm--although fertile in the absence of competition--were outcompeted by sperm of either parental species. This result may at least partly explain previous observations that natural hybridization in the study system is unidirectional.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- S Immler
- Evolutionary Biology Centre/Evolutionary Biology, University of Uppsala, Uppsala, Sweden.
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
46
|
Parker G, Immler S, Pitnick S, Birkhead T. Sperm competition games: Sperm size (mass) and number under raffle and displacement, and the evolution of P2. J Theor Biol 2010; 264:1003-23. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jtbi.2010.03.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2009] [Revised: 03/01/2010] [Accepted: 03/01/2010] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
|
47
|
Immler S, Pryke SR, Birkhead TR, Griffith SC. PRONOUNCED WITHIN-INDIVIDUAL PLASTICITY IN SPERM MORPHOMETRY ACROSS SOCIAL ENVIRONMENTS. Evolution 2009; 64:1634-43. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1558-5646.2009.00924.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
|
48
|
Immler S, Koerte I, Alperin N, Grosse CM, Schankin C, Ertl L, Reiser MF, Heinen F, Ertl-Wagner B. MR-tomographische Bestimmung von hämo- und hydrodynamischen Parametern bei Migränepatienten. ROFO-FORTSCHR RONTG 2009. [DOI: 10.1055/s-0029-1221642] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
|
49
|
Abstract
Sperm velocity is one of the main determinants of the outcome of sperm competition. Since sperm vary considerably in their morphology between and within species, it seems likely that sperm morphology is associated with sperm velocity. Theory predicts that sperm velocity may be increased by enlarged midpiece (energetic component) or flagellum length (kinetic component), or by particular ratios between sperm components, such as between flagellum length and head size. However, such associations have rarely been found in empirical studies. In a comparative framework in passerine birds, we tested these theoretical predictions both across a wide range of species and within a single family, the New World blackbirds (Icteridae). In both study groups, sperm velocity was influenced by sperm morphology in the predicted direction. Consistent with theoretical models, these results show that selection on sperm morphology and velocity are likely to be concomitant evolutionary forces.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Stefan Lüpold
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK.
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
50
|
Koerte I, Immler S, Alperin N, Schankin C, Grosse C, Pomschar A, Reiser M, Heinen F, Ertl-Wagner B. MR-tomographic assessment of hemodynamic and hydrodynamic characteristics in migraine patients. KLIN NEUROPHYSIOL 2009. [DOI: 10.1055/s-0029-1216201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
|