Title: | Reproductive hacking. A male seminal protein acts through intact reproductive pathways in female Drosophila |
Author(s): | Rubinstein CD; Wolfner MF; |
Address: | "a Laboratory of Cell and Molecular Biology; University of Wisconsin; Madison, WI USA" |
ISSN/ISBN: | 1933-6942 (Electronic) 1933-6934 (Print) 1933-6934 (Linking) |
Abstract: | "Seminal proteins are critical for reproductive success in all animals that have been studied. Although seminal proteins have been identified in many taxa, and female reproductive responses to receipt of these proteins have been documented in several, little is understood about the mechanisms by which seminal proteins affect female reproductive physiology. To explore this topic, we investigated how a Drosophila seminal protein, ovulin, increases ovulation rate in mated females. Ovulation is a relatively simple physiological process, with known female regulators: previous studies have shown that ovulation rate is promoted by the neuromodulator octopamine (OA) in D. melanogaster and other insects. We found that ovulin stimulates ovulation by increasing OA signaling in the female. This finding supports a model in which a male seminal protein acts through 'hacking' a well-conserved, regulatory system females use to adjust reproductive output, rather than acting downstream of female mechanisms of control or in parallel pathways altogether. We also discuss similarities between 2 forms of intersexual control of behavior through chemical communication: seminal proteins and pheromones" |
Keywords: | Animals Drosophila Proteins/*physiology Drosophila melanogaster/*physiology Female Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins Male Octopamine/*metabolism Ovulation/*metabolism Peptides/*physiology female post-mating responses neuromodulators octopamine; |
Notes: | "MedlineRubinstein, C Dustin Wolfner, Mariana F eng R01 HD038921/HD/NICHD NIH HHS/ R01-HD038921/HD/NICHD NIH HHS/ Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural 2014/12/09 Fly (Austin). 2014; 8(2):80-5. doi: 10.4161/fly.28396" |