Details
| Originalsprache | Englisch |
|---|---|
| Seiten (von - bis) | 409-414 |
| Seitenumfang | 6 |
| Fachzeitschrift | Journal of insect physiology |
| Jahrgang | 57 |
| Ausgabenummer | 3 |
| Publikationsstatus | Veröffentlicht - März 2011 |
| Extern publiziert | Ja |
Abstract
Seminal fluid is a biochemically complex mixture of glandular secretions that is transferred to the females sexual tract as part of the ejaculate. Seminal fluid has received increasing scientific interest in the fields of evolutionary and reproductive biology, as it seems a major determinant of male fertility/infertility and reproductive success. Here we used the honeybee Apis mellifera, where seminal fluid can be collected as part of a male's ejaculate, and performed a series of experiments to investigate the effects of seminal fluid and its components on sperm viability. We show that honeybee seminal fluid is highly potent in keeping sperm alive and this positive effect is present over a 24 h time span, comparable to the timing of the sperm storage process in the queen. We furthermore show that the presence of proteins within the seminal fluid and their structural integrity are crucial for this effect. Finally, we activated sperm using fructose and provide evidence that the positive effect of seminal fluid proteins on sperm survival cannot be replicated using generic protein substitutes. Our data provide experimental insights into the complex molecular interplay between sperm and seminal fluid defining male fertility and reproductive success.
ASJC Scopus Sachgebiete
- Biochemie, Genetik und Molekularbiologie (insg.)
- Physiologie
- Agrar- und Biowissenschaften (insg.)
- Insektenkunde
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in: Journal of insect physiology, Jahrgang 57, Nr. 3, 03.2011, S. 409-414.
Publikation: Beitrag in Fachzeitschrift › Artikel › Forschung › Peer-Review
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Proteins within the seminal fluid are crucial to keep sperm viable in the honeybee Apis mellifera
AU - King, Michaela
AU - Eubel, Holger
AU - Millar, A. Harvey
AU - Baer, Boris
N1 - Funding information: We were supported by the Australian Research Council Discovery Program (QEII Fellowship to BB, APD to HE, and APF to AHM), an Discovery Project to BB and HE and the ARC Centre of Excellence in Plant Energy Biology . We thank Tiffane Bates and the honeybee keepers of Western Australia, especially Better Bees of Western Australia for providing the necessary honeybee material for this study.
PY - 2011/3
Y1 - 2011/3
N2 - Seminal fluid is a biochemically complex mixture of glandular secretions that is transferred to the females sexual tract as part of the ejaculate. Seminal fluid has received increasing scientific interest in the fields of evolutionary and reproductive biology, as it seems a major determinant of male fertility/infertility and reproductive success. Here we used the honeybee Apis mellifera, where seminal fluid can be collected as part of a male's ejaculate, and performed a series of experiments to investigate the effects of seminal fluid and its components on sperm viability. We show that honeybee seminal fluid is highly potent in keeping sperm alive and this positive effect is present over a 24 h time span, comparable to the timing of the sperm storage process in the queen. We furthermore show that the presence of proteins within the seminal fluid and their structural integrity are crucial for this effect. Finally, we activated sperm using fructose and provide evidence that the positive effect of seminal fluid proteins on sperm survival cannot be replicated using generic protein substitutes. Our data provide experimental insights into the complex molecular interplay between sperm and seminal fluid defining male fertility and reproductive success.
AB - Seminal fluid is a biochemically complex mixture of glandular secretions that is transferred to the females sexual tract as part of the ejaculate. Seminal fluid has received increasing scientific interest in the fields of evolutionary and reproductive biology, as it seems a major determinant of male fertility/infertility and reproductive success. Here we used the honeybee Apis mellifera, where seminal fluid can be collected as part of a male's ejaculate, and performed a series of experiments to investigate the effects of seminal fluid and its components on sperm viability. We show that honeybee seminal fluid is highly potent in keeping sperm alive and this positive effect is present over a 24 h time span, comparable to the timing of the sperm storage process in the queen. We furthermore show that the presence of proteins within the seminal fluid and their structural integrity are crucial for this effect. Finally, we activated sperm using fructose and provide evidence that the positive effect of seminal fluid proteins on sperm survival cannot be replicated using generic protein substitutes. Our data provide experimental insights into the complex molecular interplay between sperm and seminal fluid defining male fertility and reproductive success.
KW - Ejaculate
KW - Fructose
KW - Male fertility
KW - Sexual reproduction
KW - Sperm storage
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=79951516670&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.jinsphys.2010.12.011
DO - 10.1016/j.jinsphys.2010.12.011
M3 - Article
C2 - 21192944
AN - SCOPUS:79951516670
VL - 57
SP - 409
EP - 414
JO - Journal of insect physiology
JF - Journal of insect physiology
SN - 0022-1910
IS - 3
ER -