Sperm maturation process occurs in the seminal vesicle following sperm transition from testis in honey bee males

Abstract

In sexual reproduction, ejaculate components that males transfer into the females vary because of various factors. For male honey bees, the entirety of their sperm is stored in the seminal vesicles until the first copulation with a female and subsequent ejaculation, after which the male will die. Therefore, we can evaluate age-related ejaculate alterations by investigating internal sexual organ changes with age. This study found that seminal vesicle wet weight decreased following sperm transfer from testes to seminal vesicles, while mucus gland weight was unchanged, thus resulting in increased sperm density in the seminal vesicles. This suggests that the decrease of seminal fluid in the seminal vesicles may be the underlying cause for age-related ejaculate component alterations.