Proteins within the seminal fluid are crucial to keep sperm viable in the honeybee Apis mellifera |
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Authors: | King Michaela Eubel Holger Millar A Harvey Baer Boris |
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Affiliation: | a ARC Centre of Excellence in Plant Energy Biology, MCS Building M310, The University of Western Australia, 6009 Crawley, Australia b School of Animal Biology (MO92), The University of Western Australia, 6009 Crawley, Australia |
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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. |
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Keywords: | Sexual reproduction Ejaculate Fructose Sperm storage Male fertility |
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