Digestion of Spermatophore Contents in the Female Genital System of the Hermaphroditic Flatworm Dugesia gonocephala (Tricladida, Paludicola)

Vreys, Carla; Steffanie, Natascha; Gevaerts, Hugo

doi:10.2307/3226860

Cited by 11 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 14 publications

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“…The simple epithelium of single cell type in the bursa copulatrix produces a secrete that may activate the sperm. Two types of cells with morphology consistent with the phagocytic and secretory role are reported by ultrastructural studies for D. gonocephala and Schmidtea lugubris (Farnesi et al 1979; Vreys et al 1997b). Henley (1974) pointed out that in many animal species, glands of the female genital system are implicated in sperm capacitation.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 53%

“…Data are limited to the fact that the spermatophore wall is formed by penial gland secretion in specimens of Romankenkius libidinosus, R. boehmigi , and D. gonocephala (Sluys & Rohde 1991; Sluys 1997). The adaptive significance of the spermatophore may lie in its ability to protect migrating sperm from being digested by the bursa copulatrix (Vreys et al 1997a,b).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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A histochemical study of the reproductive structures in the flatworm Dugesia leporii (Platyhelminthes, Tricladida)

Corso

Manconi

Stocchino

2006

Invertebrate Biology

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Abstract. The functional morphology and the topographic distribution of tissues in the reproductive system of specimens of Dugesia leporii, an endemic Sardinian free‐living planarian, are investigated. Data are provided on the nature of epithelial and glandular secretions, spermatophores, and cocoons by histochemistry, light microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. All secreting epithelial cells produce strongly acidic sulfated glycoproteins. Glandular cells secrete strongly acidic sulfated glycoproteins or keratohyalin‐like material in the penis bulb, and prekeratin‐like material in atrial glands. Secretions of the bursa copulatrix may be involved in the activation of sperm while material produced by the bursa canal and oviducts probably serves to propel spermatophores or sperm and eggs. Mucous secretion of the seminal vesicle may serve to dilute and activate sperm before copulation. The viscous secrete of the ejaculatory duct and vasa deferentia may play a protective role to maintain sperm viability. Materials produced by the penis papilla and atrium probably lubricate the epithelial surface. The bilayered wall of spermatophore made of keratohyalin‐like material and strongly acidic sulfated glycoproteins is produced by two gland types of the penis bulb. The bilayered shell of cocoon made of prekeratin‐like and keratohyalin‐like materials is secreted by both atrial glands and vitelline cells. The cocoon stalk is made of keratohyalin‐like material produced by cement glands. Shell glands, producing GAG, are not involved in cocoon formation, but they may be implicated in the dilution and activation of seminal material to favor sperm movement toward the oviducts.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 53%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A histochemical study of the reproductive structures in the flatworm Dugesia leporii (Platyhelminthes, Tricladida)

Corso

Manconi

Stocchino

2006

Invertebrate Biology

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“…Diverse mechanisms have been suggested for other organisms such as selective ejection of sperm (Pizzari & Birkhead 2000), or digestion (e.g. Vreys et al 1997) and differential positioning of ejaculates (Ward 1998;Fedina & Lewis 2006). The paired storage organs of A. bruennichi females and other spiders may facilitate female control over paternity (Snow & Andrade 2005).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Courtship raises male fertilization success through post-mating sexual selection in a spider

Schneider

Lesmono

2009

Proc. R. Soc. B.

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Courtship is well known for its positive effects on mating success. However, in polyandrous species, sexual selection continues to operate after copulation. Cryptic female choice is expected under unpredictable mating rates in combination with sequential mate encounters. However, there are very few accounts of the effects of courtship on cryptic female choice, and the available evidence is often correlative. Mature Argiope bruennichi females are always receptive and never attack or reject males before mating, although sexual cannibalism after mating occurs regularly. Still, males usually perform an energetic vibratory display prior to copulation. We tested the hypothesis that beneficial effects of courtship arise cryptically, during or after mating, resulting in increased paternity success under polyandry. Manipulating courtship duration experimentally, we found that males that mated without display had a reduced paternity share even though no differences in post-copulatory cannibalism or copulation duration were detected. This suggests that the paternity advantage associated with courtship arose through female-mediated processes after intromission, meeting the definition of cryptic female choice.

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“…Many internally fertilizing simultaneous hermaphrodites even possess anatomical adaptations that are used to digest most (Vreys et al 1997a(Vreys et al , 1997b, if not all, of the received sperm (see reviews in Baur 1998;Michiels 1998). In some flatworms, there is even a direct connection between the genital system and the digestive tract, which is supposedly used to purge sperm into the gut (Hyman 1951).…”

Section: Coevolution With Sperm Digestionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Sperm Digestion and Reciprocal Sperm Transfer Can Drive Hermaphrodite Sex Allocation to Equality

Greeff¹,

Michiels²

1999

The American Naturalist

106

112

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The intensity of sperm competition determines how much reproductive effort should be invested in sperm. One important factor affecting sperm competition in internally fertilizing organisms is the mating frequency of females, since it determines the extent of competition between ejaculates. In simultaneous hermaphrodites, energy spent on sperm has to be traded off against energy expended on ova production. By extending an existing model, we consider how the number of matings affects sperm competition and, thus, sex allocation in internally fertilizing simultaneous hermaphrodites. We then go on to explore the consequences of two common characteristics of hermaphroditic mating systems, namely, sperm digestion and reciprocal insemination. Since sperm digestion reduces the competitive ability of a given ejaculate, it selects for increased sperm investment. As a result, the amount of sperm digested and male allocation can enter a coevolutionary cycle in which both will increase up to the point of equal investment in male and female gametes and in high rates of digestion. Because of this high degree of sperm digestion, fitness through the male function becomes more dependent on the amount of resources invested in sperm than on the number of matings. As a result, sperm digestion reduces Bateman's principle. Hence, hermaphrodites with sperm digestion should be less likely to display traits that increase the number of matings. Once ejaculates are large and costly, animals insisting on reciprocal sperm transfer will be favored since they receive some compensation for their investment. Under reciprocity, an even higher investment in sperm is favored. This is the result of the compensation received in the form of the partner's ejaculate and a nuptial gift effect by increasing a partner's production of eggs.

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Digestion of Spermatophore Contents in the Female Genital System of the Hermaphroditic Flatworm Dugesia gonocephala (Tricladida, Paludicola)

Cited by 11 publications

References 14 publications

A histochemical study of the reproductive structures in the flatworm Dugesia leporii (Platyhelminthes, Tricladida)

A histochemical study of the reproductive structures in the flatworm Dugesia leporii (Platyhelminthes, Tricladida)

Courtship raises male fertilization success through post-mating sexual selection in a spider

Sperm Digestion and Reciprocal Sperm Transfer Can Drive Hermaphrodite Sex Allocation to Equality

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