Circadian rhythm of sperm release in males of the cotton leafworm, Spodoptera littoralis: in vivo and in vitro studies

Bębas, Piotr; Cymborowski, B.; Giebułtowicz, Jadwiga M.

doi:10.1016/s0022-1910(01)00058-0

Cited by 54 publications

(48 citation statements)

References 22 publications

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“…The significance of the RS clock for male fecundity has been shown in moths. The release of sperm from moth testes follows a robust circadian rhythm, which persists in the RSs isolated in vitro (12,13). Disruption of the moth circadian system by constant light leads to a dramatic reduction in the amount of released sperm (13,14).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The release of sperm from moth testes follows a robust circadian rhythm, which persists in the RSs isolated in vitro (12,13). Disruption of the moth circadian system by constant light leads to a dramatic reduction in the amount of released sperm (13,14). Thus, physiological disruption of the circadian mechanism in moths and genetic disruption of clock genes in flies both cause a decline in male fecundity.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, physiological data indicated an important role of circadian timing in reproduction of moths. In these insects, a circadian clock controls rhythms associated with the release and posttesticular maturation of sperm (12,13). Disruption of circadian rhythms by rearing male moths in constant light reduces sperm release and male fertility (14).…”

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confidence: 99%

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Loss of circadian clock function decreases reproductive fitness in males of Drosophila melanogaster

Beaver

Gvakharia

Vollintine

et al. 2002

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

203

123

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Circadian coordination of life functions is believed to contribute to an organism's fitness; however, such contributions have not been convincingly demonstrated in any animal. The most significant measure of fitness is the reproductive output of the individual and species. Here we examined the consequences of loss of clock function on reproductive fitness in Drosophila melanogaster with mutated period (per 0 ), timeless (tim 0 ), cycle (cyc 0 ), and Clock (Clk Jrk ) genes. Single mating among couples with clock-deficient phenotypes resulted in Ϸ40% fewer progeny compared with wild-type flies, because of a decreased number of eggs laid and a greater rate of unfertilized eggs. Male contribution to this phenotype was demonstrated by a decrease in reproductive capacity among per 0 and tim 0 males mated with wild-type females. The important role of clock genes for reproductive fitness was confirmed by reversal of the low-fertility phenotype in flies with rescued per or tim function. Males lacking a functional clock showed a significant decline in the quantity of sperm released from the testes to seminal vesicles, and these tissues displayed rhythmic and autonomous expression of clock genes. By combining molecular and physiological approaches, we identified a circadian clock in the reproductive system and defined its role in the sperm release that promotes reproductive fitness in D. melanogaster.M any life functions, from cellular activities to behavior, display daily (circadian) rhythms. These rhythms are generated by cell-autonomous circadian clocks and involve several genes encoding transcriptional regulators, which are substantially conserved among animals ranging from fruit flies to humans (1). The core clock mechanism in Drosophila melanogaster involves rhythmic transcription of the period (per) and timeless (tim) genes followed by nuclear accumulation of their proteins, PER and TIM. Another gene, Clock (Clk), shows mRNA oscillations that are out of phase with the oscillations of per and tim mRNAs. Protein encoded by Clk, together with protein encoded by the gene cycle (cyc), activates transcription of per and tim. These four genes are essential for the function of the brain clock, and a null mutation in any of them renders the fly behaviorally arrhythmic (2).Although the importance of circadian clocks in controlling behavior is well documented, their functional significance for physiology is less understood. Clock genes are rhythmically and autonomously expressed in peripheral tissues of D. melanogaster (3-5), zebrafish (6), and mammals (7), suggesting that peripheral clocks may coordinate physiological processes ultimately affecting fitness. Few studies have compared physiological parameters between individuals with a normal or disrupted circadian clock in any species. A study in cyanobacteria demonstrated that colonies in which free-running circadian periods are in resonance with environmental 12-h light͞12-h dark cycles (LD) out-compete colonies in which internal and external periodicities are out of synchro...

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Loss of circadian clock function decreases reproductive fitness in males of Drosophila melanogaster

Beaver

Gvakharia

Vollintine

et al. 2002

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

203

123

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“…However, in some arthropods, multiple distributed pacemakers operate independently without any overarching control (e.g. Giebultowicz and Joy, 1992;Giebultowicz et al, 2000;Bebas et al, 2001). For example, independent pacemakers control cuticle formation in cockroaches (Leucophaea maderae and Blaberus sp.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Circadian rhythms affect the electroretinogram, compound eye color, striking behavior, and locomotion of the praying mantis,Hierodula patellifera(Serville)

Schirmer

Prete

Mantes

et al. 2014

Journal of Experimental Biology

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Many behaviors and physiological processes oscillate with circadian rhythms that are synchronized to environmental cues (e.g. light onset), but persist with periods of ~24 h in the absence of such cues. We used a multilevel experimental approach to assess whether circadian rhythms modulate several aspects of the visual physiology and behavior of the praying mantis Hierodula patellifera. We used electroretinograms (ERGs) to assess compound eye sensitivity, colorimetric photographic analyses to assess compound eye color changes (screening pigment migration), behavioral assays of responsiveness to computer-generated prey-like visual stimuli and analyses of locomotor activity patterns on a modified treadmill apparatus. Our results indicate that circadian clocks control and/or modulate each of the target behaviors. Strong rhythms, persisting under constant conditions, with periods of ~24 h were evident in photoreceptor sensitivity to light, appetitive responsiveness to preylike stimuli and gross locomotor activity. In the first two cases, responsiveness was highest during the subjective night and lowest during the subjective day. Locomotor activity was strongly clustered around the transition time from day to night. In addition, pigment migration and locomotor behavior responded strongly to light:dark cycles and anticipated the light-dark transition, suggesting that the circadian clocks modulating both were entrained to environmental light cues. Together, these data indicate that circadian rhythms operate at the cellular, cellular systems and organismal level in H. patellifera. Our results represent an intriguing first step in uncovering the complexities of circadian rhythms in the Mantodea.

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“…The release of sperm from the testes into the upper vas deferens (UVD) is restricted to a few hours within each 24-h light-dark (LD) cycle [8 -11]. Temporal regulation of sperm migration is brain independent; the rhythm is self-sustained in constant conditions and can be entrained by light in isolated testis-UVD complexes in vitro [11,12]. Consistent with local timing mechanisms, a canonical clock gene, period is rhythmically expressed in the moth testis-UVD complex [13].…”

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confidence: 99%

Disruption of sperm release from insect testes by cytochalasin and ?-actin mRNA mediated interference

Gvakharia

Bębas

Cymborowski

et al. 2003

Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences (CMLS)

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Release of sperm bundles from moth testes is controlled by the local circadian oscillator. The mechanism which restricts migration of sperm bundles to a few hours each day is not understood. We demonstrate that a daily cycle of sperm release is initiated by the migration of folded apyrene sperm bundles through a cellular barrier at the testis base. These bundles have conspicuous concentrations of actin filaments at their proximal end. Inhibition of actin polymerization by cytochalasin at aspecific time of day inhibited sperm release from the testis. Likewise, application of double-stranded actin RNA specifically inhibited sperm release. This RNA-mediated interference (RNAi) lowered the pool of actin mRNA in tissues involved in sperm release. The decline in mRNA levels resulted in the selective depletion of F-actin from the tip of apyrene sperm bundles, suggesting that this actin may be involved in the initiation of sperm release. Combined results of RNAi experiments at physiological, cellular and molecular levels identified unique cells that are critically involved in the mechanism of sperm release.

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Circadian rhythm of sperm release in males of the cotton leafworm, Spodoptera littoralis: in vivo and in vitro studies

Cited by 54 publications

References 22 publications

Loss of circadian clock function decreases reproductive fitness in males of Drosophila melanogaster

Loss of circadian clock function decreases reproductive fitness in males of Drosophila melanogaster

Circadian rhythms affect the electroretinogram, compound eye color, striking behavior, and locomotion of the praying mantis,Hierodula patellifera(Serville)

Disruption of sperm release from insect testes by cytochalasin and ?-actin mRNA mediated interference

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