Abstract
Physiological changes in females during and after mating are triggered by seminal fluid components in conjunction with female-derived molecules. In insects, these changes include increased egg production, storage of sperm, and changes in muscle contraction within the reproductive tract (RT). Such postmating changes have been studied in dissected RT tissues, but understanding their coordination in vivo requires a holistic view of the tissues and their interrelationships. Here, we used high-resolution, multiscale micro-computed tomography (CT) scans to visualize and measure postmating changes in situ in the Drosophila female RT before, during, and after mating. These studies reveal previously unidentified dynamic changes in the conformation of the female RT that occur after mating. Our results also reveal how the reproductive organs temporally shift in concert within the confines of the abdomen. For example, we observed chiral loops in the uterus and in the upper common oviduct that relax and constrict throughout sperm storage and egg movement. We found that specific seminal fluid proteins or female secretions mediate some of the postmating changes in morphology. The morphological movements, in turn, can cause further changes due to the connections among organs. In addition, we observed apparent copulatory damage to the female intima, suggesting a mechanism for entry of seminal proteins, or other exogenous components, into the female's circulatory system. The 3D reconstructions provided by high-resolution micro-CT scans reveal how male and female molecules and anatomy interface to carry out and coordinate mating-dependent changes in the female's reproductive physiology.
Highlights
A brief outline of the progression of events initiated by mating is necessary before we present, how the female’s reproductive tract (RT) changes with time after copulation
During a typical D. melanogaster mating, seminal fluid proteins (SFPs) are transferred to females beginning at 3 min after the start of mating (ASM) [30, 31]
We examined female RT tissues in situ during copulation (10 min ASM) at time points immediately after mating [35–90 min ASM], as well as later, when females are actively laying eggs and sperm storage is complete (3–8 h ASM)
Summary
Physiological changes in females during and after mating are triggered by seminal fluid components in conjunction with femalederived molecules In insects, these changes include increased egg production, storage of sperm, and changes in muscle contraction within the reproductive tract (RT). To visualize spatially the coordinated and concurrent organ rearrangements within the confines of the female abdomen during insemination through to egg laying, we used high-resolution, multiscale micro-computed tomography (CT) scans. These scans give a holistic 3D view of the interrelationship among reproductive organs in situ, as females respond to mating and its chemical components. These data allow us to revisit, and newly define, effects of male and female molecules on female postmating physiology
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