Title: | Dynamic changes in ejaculatory bulb size during Drosophila melanogaster aging and mating |
Address: | "Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA. Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA. Electronic address: Mfw5@cornell.edu" |
DOI: | 10.1016/j.jinsphys.2018.04.005 |
ISSN/ISBN: | 1879-1611 (Electronic) 0022-1910 (Print) 0022-1910 (Linking) |
Abstract: | "The ejaculatory bulb of Drosophila melanogaster males produces proteins and pheromones that play important roles in reproduction. This tissue is also the final mixing site for the ejaculate before transfer to the female. The ejaculatory bulb's dynamics remain largely unstudied. By microscopy of the ejaculatory bulb in maturing adult males, we observed that the ejaculatory bulb expands in size as males age. Moreover, we document that when males mate, their ejaculatory bulb expands further as ejaculate transfer begins, and then contracts halfway through the course of mating as ejaculate transfer finishes. Although there is some male-to-male variation in the timing of these changes, ultimately the tissue changes in a predictable pattern that gives insight into the active mating process in Drosophila" |
Keywords: | "*Aging Animals Drosophila melanogaster/*cytology/*physiology Ejaculation Male Reproduction *Sexual Behavior, Animal Aging Drosophila melanogaster Ejaculatory bulb Mating PEBme Seminal fluid proteins;" |
Notes: | "MedlineCohen, Allie B Wolfner, Mariana F eng R01 HD038921/HD/NICHD NIH HHS/ Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't England 2018/04/11 J Insect Physiol. 2018 May-Jun; 107:152-156. doi: 10.1016/j.jinsphys.2018.04.005. Epub 2018 Apr 7" |