Structure of Spermatheca, Sperm Dynamics, and Associated Bacteria in Formosan Subterranean Termite (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae)

Raina, Asiiok; Murphy, Charles; Florane, Chistopher; Williams, Kelley S.; Park, Yong Ihl; Ingber, Bruce F.

doi:10.1603/0013-8746(2007)100[418:sossda]2.0.co;2

Cited by 28 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 2 publications

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“…In insects, spermathecae are ectoderm‐derived organs of the female reproductive tract in which sperm are stored and nourished until used to fertilize eggs (Davey,1985). Sperm may remain viable for long periods by virtue of spermathecal secretions (Bloch Qazi et al,2003) from cells surrounding the storage portion or forming a distinct gland area (Dallai,1975; Happ and Happ,1975; Dallai et al,1993; Schoeters and Billen,2000; Fritz and Turner,2002; Ilango,2005; Raina et al,2007; Winnick et al,2009).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sperm storage by spermatodoses in the spermatheca of Trioza alacris (Flor, 1861) hemiptera, psylloidea, triozidae: A structural and ultrastructural study

Marchini

Bene

Viscuso

et al. 2011

Journal of Morphology

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Female insects generally store sperm received during mating in specific organs of their reproductive tract, i.e., the spermathecae, which keep the sperm alive for a long time until fertilization occurs. We investigated spermatheca morphology and ultrastructure in the psylloidean insect Trioza alacris (Flor,1861) in which spheroidal sperm packets that we refer to as 'spermatodoses' are found after mating. The ectoderm-derived epithelium of the sac-shaped spermatheca that has a proximal neck, consists of large secretory and flat cuticle-forming cells. Secretory cells are characterized by a wide extracellular cavity, bordered by microvilli, in which electron-dense secretion accumulates before discharge into the spermathecal lumen. The cuticle-forming cells produce the cuticular intima of the organ and a peculiar specialized apical structure, through which secretion flows into the lumen. At mating, the male transfers bundles of sperm cells embedded in seminal fluid into the spermathecal neck. Sperm cells proceed towards the spermathecal sac lumen, where they are progressively compacted and surrounded with an envelope that also encloses secretions of both male and female origin. We describe the formation of these sperm containing structures and document the contribution of the female secretion to spermatodose or female-determined spermatophore construction. We also discuss the choice of the term 'spermatodose' for T. alacris and suggest it be used to refer to sperm masses constructed in the female reproductive organs, at least when they involve the contribution of female secretion.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sperm storage by spermatodoses in the spermatheca of Trioza alacris (Flor, 1861) hemiptera, psylloidea, triozidae: A structural and ultrastructural study

Marchini

Bene

Viscuso

et al. 2011

Journal of Morphology

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“…When completely differentiated, the spermatozoa of S. euamignathus are rounded and aflagellated. Aflagellated spermatozoa are commonly observed in all Termitidae, and most lower termites, including K. flavicollis, Reticulitermes lucifugus (Baccetti et al, 1974) and Coptotermes formosanus (Raina et al, 2007). To date, the most remarkable difference in spermatozoa morphology was recorded for the basal termite Mastotermes darwiniensis, in which the spermatozoa are mobile and present approximately 100 flagella (Baccetti and Dallai, 1978;Dallai, 2014;Dallai et al, 2016).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…On the other hand, the physiological details involved in the production, transference and storage of spermatozoa in termites have received little attention (Dean and Gold, 2004;Ye et al, 2009). The king remains with the queen, and mating occurs intermittently, with oviposition cycles in some species (Raina et al, 2007). According to Hartke and Baer (2011), the ability of termite kings to supply large quantities of viable spermatozoa to the queen, throughout decades, is as important as the fact that some female hymenopterans are capable of storing spermatozoa from their deceased partners for a similar period of time.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Morphology of the male reproductive system during post-embryonic development of the termite Silvestritermes euamignathus (Isoptera: Termitidae)

Laranjo

Haifig

Costa–Leonardo

2018

Zoologischer Anzeiger

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Despite the recent research on Isoptera reproduction strategies, few studies have focused on the morphophysiology of the reproductive system in Neotropical termite species. The classic literature emphasizes the development of the female reproductive apparatus, generating a knowledge gap on the male reproductive system, including its neotenic differentiation and the evolution of the seminal vesicles. The development of the reproductive system in males of Silvestritermes euamignathus was followed from firstinstar nymphs until primary kings, with emphasis on the histology of the gonads and seminal vesicles of primary and neotenic kings from field colonies. The maturation of the reproductive system follows post-embryonic development, reaching a peak of development in primary functional kings from field colonies. The testicles are already present in first-instar nymphs and show a progressive development that is completed in primary kings, which are characterized by an enlarged size and greater sperm production. Although spermatogenesis is observed in third-instar nymphs, only in fifth-instar nymphs are spermatozoa present in the testicles and in the seminal vesicles. Spermatozoa are also present in the testicles of neotenic reproductives, derived from different nymphal instars. After the foundation of a new colony and the maturation of the king, there is a significant increase in the reproductive apparatus and the testicular lobes, which mostly occupy the whole posterior abdomen in kings from field colonies. These individuals have a minimum of seven testicular lobes that are completely separated from each other and contain rounded, aflagellated spermatozoa, which are approximately 2-3 m in diameter. Four-month old kings from laboratory colonies seem to be in a period of reproductive pause, as they display fewer sperm in the seminal vesicles. The seminal vesicles are specialized portions of the vasa deferentia that play a role in storage of spermatozoa. These structures produce a proteinaceous secretion in alates that is not observed in kings. The overall results indicate early maturation of the reproductive system in males of S. euamignathus; furthermore, the reproductive status of the different individuals might be linked to the development of the testicles and the production, storage and release of spermatozoa. The lack of a proteinaceous secretion in the seminal vesicles of kings, in comparison to alates, might be related to the maturation of the individuals after colony establishment. The development of the male reproductive system is consistent with queen physogastry, but in more discreet proportions.

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“…Radhakrishnan & Fedorka () argued that bacteria injected into the haemolymph were unable to migrate through the chitinous spermatheca and thus that direct pathogenic effects on sperm were unlikely. There is evidence, however, in other invertebrates that sexually transmitted bacterial infections do occur: bacteria are found in the spermatheca post‐mating (Raina et al ., ), and males transfer seminal fluid with antibacterial properties (Lung et al ., ; Otti et al ., ). Indeed, the seminal fluid of T. oceanicus contains proteins that are predicted to protect sperm from both bacterial infection and oxidative damage (Simmons et al ., ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Females suffer a reduction in the viability of stored sperm following an immune challenge

McNamara

Lieshout

Simmons

2013

J of Evolutionary Biology

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Despite the ubiquitous nature of sperm storage in invertebrates, relatively little is known about its costs, or the impact that immune activation can have on a female's ability to maintain viable sperm stores. We explored the effects of an immune challenge on sperm storage under food-limited and ad libitum conditions in the field cricket, Teleogryllus oceanicus, by injecting mated adult females with either a LD 5 dose of live bacteria or a nonpathogenic immune elicitor [lipopolysaccharide (LPS)] and then scoring the viability of their stored sperm. Females that were infected with bacteria showed a reduction in the viability of stored sperm 48 h after infection; interestingly, this pattern was not evident when females were injected with LPS. Reduction in sperm viability post-infection may reflect a reproductive trade-off between immune function and sperm store maintenance, as only females injected with bacteria showed an elevated antibacterial immune (lytic) response. Alternatively, bacteria may act directly on sperm quality. Dietary manipulations showed that lytic activity in females is condition dependent, irrespective of their immune challenge treatment. Diet affected the ability of females to maintain the viability of stored sperm, suggesting that sperm storage is condition dependent. That bacterial infection associated with a reduction in stored sperm quality has potentially important implications for the outcomes of sperm competition in T. oceanicus and in other species in which females store sperm between matings.

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Structure of Spermatheca, Sperm Dynamics, and Associated Bacteria in Formosan Subterranean Termite (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae)

Cited by 28 publications

References 2 publications

Sperm storage by spermatodoses in the spermatheca of Trioza alacris (Flor, 1861) hemiptera, psylloidea, triozidae: A structural and ultrastructural study

Sperm storage by spermatodoses in the spermatheca of Trioza alacris (Flor, 1861) hemiptera, psylloidea, triozidae: A structural and ultrastructural study

Morphology of the male reproductive system during post-embryonic development of the termite Silvestritermes euamignathus (Isoptera: Termitidae)

Females suffer a reduction in the viability of stored sperm following an immune challenge

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