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Víquez L, Sevilla F, Araya-Zúñiga I, Soler C, Barquero V, Roldan ERS, Valverde A. Morphometric assessment of cryopreserved livestock bull spermatozoa in the tropics. Reprod Domest Anim 2023; 58:1439-1447. [PMID: 37603017 DOI: 10.1111/rda.14459] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2023] [Revised: 08/07/2023] [Accepted: 08/10/2023] [Indexed: 08/22/2023]
Abstract
The identification of different morphometric patterns of spermatozoa serves as a basis for improving our understanding of the diversity in an ejaculate and to relate them to the potential fertility of males. In this study, we aimed to examine the semen subpopulation structure, following dilution in semen of extenders, using a mathematical approach a possible application to fertility analyses. Ten sexually mature Bos taurus bulls were randomly allotted to one of three groups: (1) Tris-citric acid-egg yolk extender (Tris-EY); (2) commercial egg yolk extender OptiXcell® and (3) commercial egg yolk extender Triladyl®. The results showed significant differences (p < .05) between extenders in terms of values for head size and head shape variables of individual sperm, indicating an influence of extender composition. Sperm head width was found to significantly differ (p < .05) according to the extender, decreasing in the following order: OptiXcell® (4.836 ± 0.017 μm), Triladyl® (4.695 ± 0.012 μm) and Tris-EY (4.638 ± 0.010 μm). Principal component analysis allowed us to identify two subpopulations in OptiXcell®, and three subpopulations were each found in Triladyl® and Tris-EY. Overall, we observed significant differences between sperm subpopulations within each extender (p < .05), with differences in sperm head size and shape between bovine species that can be related to functionality and fertility capabilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luis Víquez
- School of Agronomy, Animal Reproduction Laboratory, Costa Rica Institute of Technology, Alajuela, San Carlos, Costa Rica
| | - Francisco Sevilla
- School of Agronomy, Animal Reproduction Laboratory, Costa Rica Institute of Technology, Alajuela, San Carlos, Costa Rica
| | - Ignacio Araya-Zúñiga
- School of Agronomy, Animal Reproduction Laboratory, Costa Rica Institute of Technology, Alajuela, San Carlos, Costa Rica
| | - Carles Soler
- Department of Cellular Biology, Functional Biology and Physical Anthropology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Valencia, Burjassot, Spain
| | - Vinicio Barquero
- Faculty of Agri-Food Sciences, Alfredo Volio Mata Experimental Station, University of Costa Rica, Cartago, Costa Rica
| | - Eduardo R S Roldan
- Department of Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology, National Museum of Natural Sciences, Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Anthony Valverde
- School of Agronomy, Animal Reproduction Laboratory, Costa Rica Institute of Technology, Alajuela, San Carlos, Costa Rica
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2
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Weber WD, Fisher HS. Sexual selection drives the coevolution of male and female reproductive traits in Peromyscus mice. J Evol Biol 2023; 36:67-81. [PMID: 36480400 PMCID: PMC10107626 DOI: 10.1111/jeb.14126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2022] [Revised: 09/30/2022] [Accepted: 10/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
When females mate with multiple partners within a single reproductive cycle, sperm from rival males may compete for fertilization of a limited number of ova, and females may bias the fertilization of their ova by particular sperm. Over evolutionary timescales, these two forms of selection shape both male and female reproductive physiology when females mate multiply, yet in monogamous systems, post-copulatory sexual selection is weak or absent. Here, we examine how divergent mating strategies within a genus of closely related mice, Peromyscus, have shaped the evolution of reproductive traits. We show that in promiscuous species, males exhibit traits associated with increased sperm production and sperm swimming performance, and females exhibit traits that are predicted to limit sperm access to their ova including increased oviduct length and a larger cumulus cell mass surrounding the ova, compared to monogamous species. Importantly, we found that across species, oviduct length and cumulus cell density are significantly correlated with sperm velocity, but not sperm count or relative testes size, suggesting that these female traits may have coevolved with increased sperm quality rather than quantity. Taken together, our results highlight how male and female traits evolve in concert and respond to changes in the level of post-copulatory sexual selection.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Heidi S Fisher
- Department of Biology, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, USA
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3
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Dharmarathne WDSC, Herberstein ME. Limitations of sperm transfer in the complex reproductive system of spiders. Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2022. [DOI: 10.1093/biolinnean/blab158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
In spiders, sperm transfer from the male to the female is indirect via secondary copulatory structures, the pedipalps. At the time of transfer the sperm are not mobile and the ejaculate needs to move through narrow male and female ducts to the female sperm storage organ. In addition, copulation duration can be very short, often limited to just a few seconds. Finally, sexual cannibalism and genital damage limits male life-time mating opportunities. These features of the reproductive biology in spiders are likely to result in sperm transfer constraints. Here we review the intrinsic and extrinsic sperm transfer limitations and conduct a meta-analysis on sperm transfer data from published data. Most of the information available relates to orb-web spiders, but our meta-analysis also includes non-orb-web spiders. Our review identifies some of the behavioural factors that have been shown to influence sperm transfer, and lists several morphological and physiological traits where we do not yet know how they might affect sperm transfer.
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4
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Teves ME, Roldan ERS. Sperm bauplan and function and underlying processes of sperm formation and selection. Physiol Rev 2022; 102:7-60. [PMID: 33880962 PMCID: PMC8812575 DOI: 10.1152/physrev.00009.2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2020] [Revised: 04/14/2021] [Accepted: 04/19/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
The spermatozoon is a highly differentiated and polarized cell, with two main structures: the head, containing a haploid nucleus and the acrosomal exocytotic granule, and the flagellum, which generates energy and propels the cell; both structures are connected by the neck. The sperm's main aim is to participate in fertilization, thus activating development. Despite this common bauplan and function, there is an enormous diversity in structure and performance of sperm cells. For example, mammalian spermatozoa may exhibit several head patterns and overall sperm lengths ranging from ∼30 to 350 µm. Mechanisms of transport in the female tract, preparation for fertilization, and recognition of and interaction with the oocyte also show considerable variation. There has been much interest in understanding the origin of this diversity, both in evolutionary terms and in relation to mechanisms underlying sperm differentiation in the testis. Here, relationships between sperm bauplan and function are examined at two levels: first, by analyzing the selective forces that drive changes in sperm structure and physiology to understand the adaptive values of this variation and impact on male reproductive success and second, by examining cellular and molecular mechanisms of sperm formation in the testis that may explain how differentiation can give rise to such a wide array of sperm forms and functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Eugenia Teves
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia
| | - Eduardo R S Roldan
- Department of Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (CSIC), Madrid, Spain
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5
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Górski K, Kondracki S, Iwanina M, Kordan W, Fraser L. Effects of breed and ejaculate volume on sperm morphology and semen parameters of boars. Anim Sci J 2021; 92:e13629. [PMID: 34477292 DOI: 10.1111/asj.13629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2021] [Revised: 07/23/2021] [Accepted: 07/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The aim of the study was to determine the relation between the semen quality, frequency of sperm defects, sperm dimensions and shape, and the ejaculate volume of Large White and Landrace boars. A total of 648 ejaculates collected from 31 Large White and 30 Landrace boars were divided into three groups according to the criterion of the ejaculate volume. In this study Landrace boars produced ejaculates with higher volume, sperm concentration, and total numbers of spermatozoa than Large White boars. Landrace boars also showed a lower frequency of sperm with morphological abnormalities (P < 0.05). Landrace boars sperm had larger heads, which were by 0.15 μm longer, and by a larger perimeter and area (P < 0.05). Landrace boar spermatozoa also had a longer flagellum and were generally larger and by 2.07 μm longer than Large White boar sperm (P < 0.05). Significant differences were also found in the shape of sperm of the two breeds (P < 0.05). Landrace boars sperm had more elongated heads, and the ratio of head size to flagellum length was lower than in Large White boars sperm (P < 0.05). Sperm from ejaculates with low volume had a shorter flagellum and a greater head length/flagellum length ratio than sperm from medium- and high-volume ejaculates (P < 0.05).
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Affiliation(s)
- Krzysztof Górski
- Institute of Animal Production and Fisheries, Faculty of Agrobioengineering and Animal Husbandry, Siedlce University of Natural Sciences and Humanities, Siedlce, Poland
| | - Stanisław Kondracki
- Institute of Animal Production and Fisheries, Faculty of Agrobioengineering and Animal Husbandry, Siedlce University of Natural Sciences and Humanities, Siedlce, Poland
| | - Maria Iwanina
- Institute of Animal Production and Fisheries, Faculty of Agrobioengineering and Animal Husbandry, Siedlce University of Natural Sciences and Humanities, Siedlce, Poland
| | - Władysław Kordan
- Department of Animal Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Faculty of Animal Bioengineering, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Olsztyn, Poland
| | - Leyland Fraser
- Department of Animal Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Faculty of Animal Bioengineering, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Olsztyn, Poland
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Predictive Capacity of Boar Sperm Morphometry and Morphometric Sub-Populations on Reproductive Success after Artificial Insemination. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:ani11040920. [PMID: 33805060 PMCID: PMC8064074 DOI: 10.3390/ani11040920] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2021] [Revised: 03/16/2021] [Accepted: 03/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary The efficiency of swine production measured as litter size influences the profitability of the pig industry. Furthermore, sow fertility potential depends in part on the boar semen quality and reproductive efficiency. The objective of this study is to compare boar sperm head size and morphometric features of shape to evaluate their relationships with reproductive success after artificial insemination (AI). A morphometric analysis of boar ejaculate reveals morphometrically separate sub-populations. The differences between sub-populations are displayed for sperm head size. In addition, sperm clustering into sub-populations did not have a predictive capacity on litter size variables. Nevertheless, the morphometric variables of the sperm may have a predictive, albeit reduced, capacity regarding litter size variables. The results of this study therefore open up possibilities for future assessments of fertility. Abstract The aim of the study was to compare the morphometric features of sperm head size and shape from the Pietrain line and the Duroc × Pietrain boar crossbred terminal lines, and to evaluate their relationship with reproductive success after artificial insemination of sows produced from crossbreeding the York, Landrace and Pietrain breeds. Semen samples were collected from 11 sexually mature boars. Only ejaculates with greater than 70% motility rate and <15% of abnormal sperm were used for artificial inseminations (AI) and included in the study. Samples were analyzed using an ISAS®v1 computer-assisted sperm analysis system for eight morphometric parameters of head shape and size (CASA-Morph). Sub-populations of morphometric ejaculates were characterized using multivariate procedures, such as principal component (PC) analysis and clustering methods (k-means model). Four different ejaculate sub-populations were identified from two PCs that involved the head shape and size of the spermatozoa. The discriminant ability of the different morphometric sperm variables to predict sow litter size was analyzed using a receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve analysis. Sperm head length, ellipticity, elongation, and regularity showed significant predictive capacity on litter size (0.59, 0.59, 0.60, and 0.56 area under curve (AUC), respectively). The morphometric sperm sub-populations were not related to sow litter size.
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Nixon B, Cafe SL, Eamens AL, De Iuliis GN, Bromfield EG, Martin JH, Skerrett-Byrne DA, Dun MD. Molecular insights into the divergence and diversity of post-testicular maturation strategies. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2020; 517:110955. [PMID: 32783903 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2020.110955] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2020] [Revised: 06/11/2020] [Accepted: 07/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Competition to achieve paternity has coerced the development of a multitude of male reproductive strategies. In one of the most well-studied examples, the spermatozoa of all mammalian species must undergo a series of physiological changes as they transit the male (epididymal maturation) and female (capacitation) reproductive tracts prior to realizing their potential to fertilize an ovum. However, the origin and adaptive advantage afforded by these intricate processes of post-testicular sperm maturation remain to be fully elucidated. Here, we review literature pertaining to the nature and the physiological role of epididymal maturation and subsequent capacitation in comparative vertebrate taxa including representative species from the avian, reptilian, and mammalian lineages. Such insights are discussed in terms of the framework they provide for helping to understand the evolutionary significance of post-testicular sperm maturation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brett Nixon
- Priority Research Centre for Reproductive Science, School of Environmental and Life Sciences, Discipline of Biological Sciences, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia; Hunter Medical Research Institute, Pregnancy and Reproduction Program, New Lambton Heights, NSW, Australia.
| | - Shenae L Cafe
- Priority Research Centre for Reproductive Science, School of Environmental and Life Sciences, Discipline of Biological Sciences, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia; Hunter Medical Research Institute, Pregnancy and Reproduction Program, New Lambton Heights, NSW, Australia
| | - Andrew L Eamens
- Priority Research Centre for Reproductive Science, School of Environmental and Life Sciences, Discipline of Biological Sciences, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia; Hunter Medical Research Institute, Pregnancy and Reproduction Program, New Lambton Heights, NSW, Australia
| | - Geoffry N De Iuliis
- Priority Research Centre for Reproductive Science, School of Environmental and Life Sciences, Discipline of Biological Sciences, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia; Hunter Medical Research Institute, Pregnancy and Reproduction Program, New Lambton Heights, NSW, Australia
| | - Elizabeth G Bromfield
- Priority Research Centre for Reproductive Science, School of Environmental and Life Sciences, Discipline of Biological Sciences, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia; Hunter Medical Research Institute, Pregnancy and Reproduction Program, New Lambton Heights, NSW, Australia
| | - Jacinta H Martin
- Priority Research Centre for Reproductive Science, School of Environmental and Life Sciences, Discipline of Biological Sciences, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia; Hunter Medical Research Institute, Pregnancy and Reproduction Program, New Lambton Heights, NSW, Australia
| | - David A Skerrett-Byrne
- Priority Research Centre for Reproductive Science, School of Environmental and Life Sciences, Discipline of Biological Sciences, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia; Hunter Medical Research Institute, Pregnancy and Reproduction Program, New Lambton Heights, NSW, Australia
| | - Matthew D Dun
- Cancer Signalling Research Group, School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, Faculty of Health and Medicine, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia; Priority Research Centre for Cancer Research Innovation and Translation, Hunter Medical Research Institute, Lambton, NSW, 2305, Australia
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8
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Wysokińska A, Kondracki S. Heterosis for morphometric characteristics of sperm cells from Duroc x Pietrain crossbred boars. Anim Reprod Sci 2019; 211:106217. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anireprosci.2019.106217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2019] [Revised: 10/12/2019] [Accepted: 10/23/2019] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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9
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Turani B, Aliko V, Shkembi E. Characterization of Albanian water frog, Pelophylax shqipericus, sperm traits and morphology, by using phase contrast microscopy. Microsc Res Tech 2019; 82:1802-1809. [PMID: 31313452 DOI: 10.1002/jemt.23346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2019] [Revised: 05/28/2019] [Accepted: 06/13/2019] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Mature spermatozoa traits and morphology of endangered Albanian water frog, Pelophylax shqipericus, have been characterized for the first time through phase contrast microscopy, as part of successful implementation of in vitro fertilization technique for this species. The basic morphology of P. shqipericus spermatozoa consists of an elongated, thick, smooth-edged, and solid-staining head, continuing with a thin and long tail which usually extends 2.48 times the head length. The acrosome was not clearly discernible so the measurements were done on the head as a whole, while the middle section was better visible. Average length of head, including the acrosome and midsection was estimated to be 11.78 μm ± 0.32, while the tail length resulted 29.24 ± 1.75 μm. The average thickness of the head was shown to be 3.45 μm. The total sperm length resulted to be 41.02 ± 1.83 μm. The average sperm concentration was estimated of 25.5 × 106 /ml. Sperm amount, survival rate and motility were also measured. The sperm survival rate was maximal immediately after preparation of the suspension and tended to decrease over time of storage, reaching 50% after 72 hr. Decreased sperm motility seemed to follow the same trend as sperm viability. Sperm traits resulted to be very similar both in size and in shape with those of "Lessonae" frog group, one of the lineages of Western Palearctic species complex, suggesting a strong phylogenetic relationship among these species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Blerta Turani
- University of Tirana, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Tirana, Albania
| | - Valbona Aliko
- University of Tirana, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Tirana, Albania
| | - Entela Shkembi
- Semiology Laboratory, Medical Center, Dani Andrology, Tirana, Albania
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10
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Valverde A, Arnau S, García-Molina A, Bompart D, Campos M, Roldán ERS, Soler C. Dog sperm swimming parameters analysed by computer-assisted semen analysis of motility reveal major breed differences. Reprod Domest Anim 2019; 54:795-803. [PMID: 30801867 DOI: 10.1111/rda.13420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2018] [Accepted: 02/18/2019] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Dogs have undergone an intensive artificial selection process ever since the beginning of their relationship with humans. As a consequence, a wide variety of well-defined breeds exist today. Due to the enormous variation in dog phenotypes and the unlikely chance of gene exchange between them, the question arises as to whether they should still be regarded as a single species or, perhaps, they be considered as different taxa that possess different reproductive traits. The aim of this study was therefore to characterize some male reproductive traits, focusing on kinematic characteristics of dog spermatozoa from several breeds. Thirty-seven dogs from the following breeds were used: Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Labrador Retriever, Spanish Mastiff, Valencian Rat Hunting Dog, British Bulldog and Chihuahua. Semen samples were obtained via manual stimulation and diluted to a final sperm concentration of 50 million/ml, and they were subsequently analysed by the computer assisted semen analysis (CASA-Mot) ISAS® v1 system. Eight kinematic parameters were evaluated automatically. All parameters showed significant different values among breeds and among individuals within each breed. The fastest sperm cells were those of Staffordshire Bull Terriers and the slowest were recorded in Chihuahuas. The intra-male coefficient of variation (CV) was higher than the inter-male CV for all breeds with the Staffordshire Bull Terrier showing the lowest values. When taking into consideration the cells by animal and breed, discriminant analyses showed a high capability to predict the breed. Cluster analyses showed a hierarchical classification very close to that obtained after phylogenetic studies with genome markers. In conclusion, future workers on dog spermatozoa should bear in mind major differences between breeds and realize that results cannot be extrapolated from one to another. Because sperm characteristics are associated with breed diversity, dogs may represent a good model to examine changes in reproductive parameters associated with selection processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony Valverde
- School of Agronomy, Costa Rica Institute of Technology, Alajuela, Costa Rica.,Department of Cellular Biology, Functional Biology and Physical Anthropology, University of Valencia, Burjassot, Spain
| | - Sandra Arnau
- Department of Cellular Biology, Functional Biology and Physical Anthropology, University of Valencia, Burjassot, Spain
| | | | - Daznia Bompart
- R+D Department, Proiser R+D, S.L., University of Valencia, Paterna, Spain
| | - Marcos Campos
- Department of Medicine and Animal Surgery, University Cardenal-Herrera-CEU, Valencia, Spain.,Global Veterinaria (Reprovalcan), València, Spain.,Clínica Veterinaria Sangüeso, València, Spain
| | - Eduardo Raúl S Roldán
- Department of Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (CSIC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Carles Soler
- Department of Cellular Biology, Functional Biology and Physical Anthropology, University of Valencia, Burjassot, Spain.,R+D Department, Proiser R+D, S.L., University of Valencia, Paterna, Spain
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Briskie JV, Montgomerie R, Birkhead TR. THE EVOLUTION OF SPERM SIZE IN BIRDS. Evolution 2017; 51:937-945. [PMID: 28568571 DOI: 10.1111/j.1558-5646.1997.tb03674.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 112] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/1996] [Accepted: 01/06/1997] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- James V. Briskie
- Department of Biology; Queen's University; Kingston Ontario K7L 3N6 Canada
| | - Robert Montgomerie
- Department of Biology; Queen's University; Kingston Ontario K7L 3N6 Canada
| | - Tim R. Birkhead
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences; University of Sheffield; Sheffield S10 2TN U.K
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12
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Snook RR. IS THE PRODUCTION OF MULTIPLE SPERM TYPES ADAPTIVE? Evolution 2017; 51:797-808. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1558-5646.1997.tb03662.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/1996] [Accepted: 12/19/1996] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Rhonda R. Snook
- Department of Zoology Arizona State University Tempe Arizona 85287‐1501
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Morphologic analysis of sperm from two neotropical primate species: comparisons between the squirrel monkeys Saimiri collinsi and Saimiri vanzolinii. ZYGOTE 2017; 25:141-148. [DOI: 10.1017/s0967199416000411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
SummarySperm morphometry can be applied to identify different animal groups and species and to evaluate sperm quality. Furthermore, knowledge on species-specific differences will help to enhance biological information, as well as to develop efficient reproductive technologies. The aims in the present study were to describe sperm morphometry from the recently characterized species S. collinsi and S. vanzolinii, to verify if the morphometric sperm patterns are similar or different between both species, and to determine if the sperm morphometry is affected by the levels of sperm defects using the S. collinsi as a model. Semen was collected from S. collinsi (n = 10) and S. vanzolinii (n = 2) monkeys, and sperm was submitted to morphological analysis. From the 10 samples from S. collinsi, five presented sperm of poor quality and two subgroups were formed for this species, i.e. high and poor quality sperm. Data on sperm motility and vigour were analysed, as well morphometric parameters on sperm head and tail. It was observed the normal morphometry was correlated with high quality sperm. Poor quality sperm presented smaller and 7% more ellipticity in their head, when compared with high quality sperm. Sperm from S. vanzolinii presented larger head than those from S. collinsi, but tail lengths were similar. Sperm morphometry can be used as a complementary tool to predict sperm motility and vigour for the S. collinsi species, and S. collinsi appear as a suitable model for S. vanzolinii.
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Cursino MS, Duarte JMB. Using sperm morphometry and multivariate analysis to differentiate species of gray Mazama. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2016; 3:160345. [PMID: 28018612 PMCID: PMC5180110 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.160345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2016] [Accepted: 10/12/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
There is genetic evidence that the two species of Brazilian gray Mazama, Mazama gouazoubira and Mazama nemorivaga, belong to different genera. This study identified significant differences that separated them into distinct groups, based on characteristics of the spermatozoa and ejaculate of both species. The characteristics that most clearly differentiated between the species were ejaculate colour, white for M. gouazoubira and reddish for M. nemorivaga, and sperm head dimensions. Multivariate analysis of sperm head dimension and format data accurately discriminated three groups for species with total percentage of misclassified of 0.71. The individual analysis, by animal, and the multivariate analysis have also discriminated correctly all five animals (total percentage of misclassified of 13.95%), and the canonical plot has shown three different clusters: Cluster 1, including individuals of M. nemorivaga; Cluster 2, including two individuals of M. gouazoubira; and Cluster 3, including a single individual of M. gouazoubira. The results obtained in this work corroborate the hypothesis of the formation of new genera and species for gray Mazama. Moreover, the easily applied method described herein can be used as an auxiliary tool to identify sibling species of other taxonomic groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina Suzuki Cursino
- Deer Research and Conservation Center (NUPECCE, Núcleo de Pesquisa e Conservação de Cervídeos), Department of Animal Science, Via de Acesso Professor Paulo Donato Castellane s/n, Jaboticabal, SP, 14884-900, Brazil
- Graduate Program in Veterinary Medicine, Doctorate in Animal Reproduction Science, Faculty of Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences (FCAV)-São Paulo State University (UNESP), Via de Acesso Professor Paulo Donato Castellane s/n, Jaboticabal, SP, 14884-900, Brazil
| | - José Maurício Barbanti Duarte
- Deer Research and Conservation Center (NUPECCE, Núcleo de Pesquisa e Conservação de Cervídeos), Department of Animal Science, Via de Acesso Professor Paulo Donato Castellane s/n, Jaboticabal, SP, 14884-900, Brazil
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15
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Orbach DN, Marshall CD, Würsig B, Mesnick SL. Variation in Female Reproductive Tract Morphology of the Common Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops truncatus). Anat Rec (Hoboken) 2016; 299:520-37. [PMID: 26788790 DOI: 10.1002/ar.23318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2015] [Revised: 11/08/2015] [Accepted: 12/13/2015] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Cetaceans exhibit vaginal folds, unusual protrusions of the vaginal wall into the vaginal lumen. Inconsistent terminology and a lack of anatomical landmarks in the literature have hindered comparative studies of the form and function of vaginal folds. Our objectives are to: (1) develop a standardized measurement protocol for the reproductive tracts of female cetaceans, (2) assess variation in morphometrics within the common bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus), and (3) determine if vaginal muscle is skeletal, and therefore of somatic origin in this species. We selected 15 measurements to characterize female reproductive tracts and evaluated variability using fresh or frozen-thawed specimens from southeastern USA representing a range of sexual maturity states and reproductive states (n = 18 specimens). Presence of skeletal muscle and variation in the density of muscle banding were assessed using 90 histological samples (n = 5 specimens). Analyses of the gross morphological data revealed that the dolphins generally had one large vaginal fold that bisected the vaginal lumen. Vaginal morphology was similar for sexually mature and immature specimens and across reproductive states. The histological data revealed that the vaginal musculature consisted of smooth muscle, consistent with other mammals, leading us to conclude that vaginal contractions are likely under autonomic rather than somatic control. No differences were found in the density of smooth muscle banding among vaginal regions or sexual maturity states. Our systematic protocol lays the foundation for evaluating the function (e.g., sexual selection, natural selection) and evolution of vaginal folds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dara N Orbach
- Department of Marine Biology, Texas A&M University at Galveston, Galveston, Texas
| | - Christopher D Marshall
- Department of Marine Biology, Texas A&M University at Galveston, Galveston, Texas.,Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas
| | - Bernd Würsig
- Department of Marine Biology, Texas A&M University at Galveston, Galveston, Texas.,Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas
| | - Sarah L Mesnick
- National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Southwest Fisheries Science Center, La Jolla, California
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16
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Rodríguez-Gil JE, Bonet S. Current knowledge on boar sperm metabolism: Comparison with other mammalian species. Theriogenology 2016; 85:4-11. [DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2015.05.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2015] [Revised: 05/06/2015] [Accepted: 05/06/2015] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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17
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Beyond Testis Size: Links between Spermatogenesis and Sperm Traits in a Seasonal Breeding Mammal. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0139240. [PMID: 26430740 PMCID: PMC4592251 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0139240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2015] [Accepted: 09/10/2015] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Spermatogenesis is a costly process that is expected to be under selection to maximise sperm quantity and quality. Testis size is often regarded as a proxy measure of sperm investment, implicitly overlooking the quantitative assessment of spermatogenesis. An enhanced understanding of testicular function, beyond testis size, may reveal further sexual traits involved in sperm quantity and quality. Here, we first estimated the inter-male variation in testicular function and sperm traits in red deer across the breeding and non-breeding seasons. Then, we analysed the relationships between the testis mass, eight parameters of spermatogenic function, and seven parameters of sperm quality. Our findings revealed that the Sertoli cell number and function parameters vary greatly between red deer males, and that spermatogenic activity co-varies with testis mass and sperm quality across the breeding and non-breeding seasons. For the first time in a seasonal breeder, we found that not only is the Sertoli cell number important in determining testis mass (r = 0.619, p = 0.007 and r = 0.248, p = 0.047 for the Sertoli cell number assessed by histology and cytology, respectively), but also sperm function (r = 0.703, p = 0.002 and r = 0.328, p = 0.012 for the Sertoli cell number assessed by histology and cytology, respectively). Testicular histology also revealed that a high Sertoli cell number per tubular cross-section is associated with high sperm production (r = 0.600, p = 0.009). Sperm production and function were also positively correlated (r = 0.384, p = 0.004), suggesting that these traits co-vary to maximise sperm fertilisation ability in red deer. In conclusion, our findings contribute to the understanding of the dynamics of spermatogenesis, and reveal new insights into the role of testicular function and the Sertoli cell number on testis size and sperm quality in red deer.
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18
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Tourmente M, Delbarco Trillo J, Roldan ERS. No evidence of trade-offs in the evolution of sperm numbers and sperm size in mammals. J Evol Biol 2015; 28:1816-27. [DOI: 10.1111/jeb.12698] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2015] [Revised: 07/06/2015] [Accepted: 07/11/2015] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- M. Tourmente
- Reproductive Ecology and Biology Group; Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (CSIC); Madrid Spain
| | - J. Delbarco Trillo
- Reproductive Ecology and Biology Group; Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (CSIC); Madrid Spain
| | - E. R. S. Roldan
- Reproductive Ecology and Biology Group; Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (CSIC); Madrid Spain
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19
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Tourmente M, Villar-Moya P, Varea-Sánchez M, Luque-Larena JJ, Rial E, Roldan ERS. Performance of Rodent Spermatozoa Over Time Is Enhanced by Increased ATP Concentrations: The Role of Sperm Competition. Biol Reprod 2015; 93:64. [PMID: 26157072 DOI: 10.1095/biolreprod.114.127621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2014] [Accepted: 07/06/2015] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Sperm viability, acrosome integrity, motility, and swimming velocity are determinants of male fertility and exhibit an extreme degree of variation among closely related species. Many of these sperm parameters are associated with sperm ATP content, which has led to predictions of trade-offs between ATP content and sperm motility and velocity. Selective pressures imposed by sperm competition have been proposed as evolutionary causes of this pattern of diversity in sperm traits. Here, we examine variation in sperm viability, acrosome integrity, motility, swimming velocity, and ATP content over time, among 18 species of closely related muroid rodents, to address the following questions: (a) Do sperm from closely related species vary in ATP content after a period of incubation? (b) Are these differences in ATP levels related to differences in other sperm traits? (c) Are differences in ATP content and sperm performance over time explained by the levels of sperm competition in these species? Our results revealed a high degree of interspecific variability in changes in sperm ATP content, acrosome integrity, sperm motility and swimming velocity over time. Additionally, species with high sperm competition levels were able to maintain higher levels of sperm motility and faster sperm swimming velocity when they were incubated under conditions that support sperm survival. Furthermore, we show that the maintenance of such levels of sperm performance is correlated with the ability of sperm to sustain high concentrations of intracellular ATP over time. Thus, sperm competition may have an important role maximizing sperm metabolism and performance and, ultimately, the fertilizing capacity of spermatozoa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maximiliano Tourmente
- Reproductive Ecology and Biology Group, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales - Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Madrid, Spain
| | - Pilar Villar-Moya
- Reproductive Ecology and Biology Group, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales - Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Madrid, Spain
| | - María Varea-Sánchez
- Reproductive Ecology and Biology Group, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales - Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Madrid, Spain
| | - Juan J Luque-Larena
- Departamento de Ciencias Agroforestales, Universidad de Valladolid, Palencia, Spain
| | - Eduardo Rial
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas - Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Madrid, Spain
| | - Eduardo R S Roldan
- Reproductive Ecology and Biology Group, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales - Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Madrid, Spain
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20
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Byrne PG, Dunne C, Munn AJ, Silla AJ. Environmental osmolality influences sperm motility activation in an anuran amphibian. J Evol Biol 2015; 28:521-34. [PMID: 25586700 DOI: 10.1111/jeb.12584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2014] [Revised: 12/23/2014] [Accepted: 01/08/2015] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Evolutionary theory predicts that selection will favour sperm traits that maximize fertilization success in local fertilization environments. In externally fertilizing species, osmolality of the fertilization medium is known to play a critical role in activating sperm motility, but there remains limited evidence for adaptive responses to local osmotic environments. In this study, we used a split-sample experimental design and computer-assisted sperm analysis to (i) determine the optimal medium osmolality for sperm activation (% sperm motility and sperm velocity) in male common eastern froglets (Crinia signifera), (ii) test for among-population variation in percentage sperm motility and sperm velocity at various activation-medium osmolalities and (iii) test for among-population covariation between sperm performance and environmental osmolality. Frogs were obtained from nine populations that differed in environmental osmolality, and sperm samples of males from different populations were subjected to a range of activation-medium osmolalities. Percentage sperm motility was optimal between 10 and 50 mOsm kg(-1) , and sperm velocity was optimal between 10 and 100 mOsm kg(-1) , indicating that C. signifera has evolved sperm that can function across a broad range of osmolalities. As predicted, there was significant among-population variation in sperm performance. Furthermore, there was a significant interaction between activation-medium osmolality and environmental osmolality, indicating that frogs from populations with higher environmental osmolality produced sperm that performed better at higher osmolalities in vitro. This finding may reflect phenotypic plasticity in sperm functioning, or genetic divergence resulting from spatial variation in the strength of directional selection. Both of these explanations are consistent with evolutionary theory, providing some of the first empirical evidence that local osmotic environments can favour adaptive sperm motility responses in species that use an external mode of fertilization.
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Affiliation(s)
- P G Byrne
- The Institute for Conservation Biology and Environmental Management, School of Biological Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia
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21
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Orr TJ, Zuk M. Reproductive delays in mammals: an unexplored avenue for post-copulatory sexual selection. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2014; 89:889-912. [DOI: 10.1111/brv.12085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2013] [Revised: 01/12/2014] [Accepted: 01/16/2014] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Teri J. Orr
- Department of Biology; University of California; Riverside CA 92521 U.S.A
| | - Marlene Zuk
- Ecology, Evolution and Behavior; University of Minnesota; 1987 Upper Buford Circle Saint Paul MN 55108 U.S.A
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22
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Varea Sánchez M, Bastir M, Roldan ERS. Geometric morphometrics of rodent sperm head shape. PLoS One 2013; 8:e80607. [PMID: 24312234 PMCID: PMC3842927 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0080607] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2013] [Accepted: 10/15/2013] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Mammalian spermatozoa, particularly those of rodent species, are extremely complex cells and differ greatly in form and dimensions. Thus, characterization of sperm size and, particularly, sperm shape represents a major challenge. No consensus exists on a method to objectively assess size and shape of spermatozoa. In this study we apply the principles of geometric morphometrics to analyze rodent sperm head morphology and compare them with two traditional morphometry methods, that is, measurements of linear dimensions and dimensions-derived parameters calculated using formulae employed in sperm morphometry assessments. Our results show that geometric morphometrics clearly identifies shape differences among rodent spermatozoa. It is also capable of discriminating between size and shape and to analyze these two variables separately. Thus, it provides an accurate method to assess sperm head shape. Furthermore, it can identify which sperm morphology traits differ between species, such as the protrusion or retraction of the base of the head, the orientation and relative position of the site of flagellum insertion, the degree of curvature of the hook, and other distinct anatomical features and appendices. We envisage that the use of geometric morphometrics may have a major impact on future studies focused on the characterization of sperm head formation, diversity of sperm head shape among species (and underlying evolutionary forces), the effects of reprotoxicants on changes in cell shape, and phenotyping of genetically-modified individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Varea Sánchez
- Reproductive Ecology and Biology Group, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (CSIC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Markus Bastir
- Department of Paleobiology, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (CSIC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Eduardo R. S. Roldan
- Reproductive Ecology and Biology Group, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (CSIC), Madrid, Spain
- * E-mail:
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23
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Firman RC, Bentley B, Bowman F, Marchant FGS, Parthenay J, Sawyer J, Stewart T, O'Shea JE. No evidence of sperm conjugate formation in an Australian mouse bearing sperm with three hooks. Ecol Evol 2013; 3:1856-63. [PMID: 23919134 PMCID: PMC3728929 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.577] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2013] [Revised: 03/25/2013] [Accepted: 03/26/2013] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Sperm conjugation occurs when two or more sperm physically unite for motility or transport through the female reproductive tract. In many muroid rodent species, sperm conjugates have been shown to form by a single, conspicuous apical hook located on the sperm head. These sperm “trains” have been reported to be highly variable in size and, despite all the heads pointing in roughly the same direction, exhibit a relatively disordered arrangement. In some species, sperm “trains” have been shown to enhance sperm swimming speed, and thus have been suggested to be advantageous in sperm competition. Here, we assessed the behavior of sperm in the sandy inland mouse (Pseudomys hermannsburgensis), a muroid rodent that bears sperm with three apical hooks. First, we accrued genetic evidence of multiple paternity within “wild” litters to unequivocally show that sperm competition does occur in this species. Following this we utilized both in vitro and in vivo methodologies to determine whether sandy inland mouse sperm conjugate to form motile trains. Our observations of in vitro preparations of active sperm revealed that sandy inland mouse sperm exhibit rapid, progressive motility as individual cells only. Similarly, histological sections of the reproductive tracts of mated females revealed no in vivo evidence of sperm conjugate formation. We conclude that the unique, three-hooked morphology of the sandy inland mouse sperm does not facilitate the formation of motile conjugates, and discuss our findings in relation to the different hypotheses for the evolution of the muroid rodent hook/s.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renée C Firman
- Centre for Evolutionary Biology, School of Animal Biology, University of Western Australia Crawley, Western Australia, 6009, Australia
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24
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Perry JC, Sirot L, Wigby S. The seminal symphony: how to compose an ejaculate. Trends Ecol Evol 2013; 28:414-22. [PMID: 23582755 DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2013.03.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 204] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2012] [Revised: 02/17/2013] [Accepted: 03/13/2013] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Ejaculates are fundamental to fitness in sexually reproducing animals: males gain all their direct fitness via the ejaculate and females require ejaculates to reproduce. Both sperm and non-sperm components of the ejaculate (including parasperm, seminal proteins, water, and macromolecules) play vital roles in postcopulatory sexual selection and conflict, processes that can potentially drive rapid evolutionary change and reproductive isolation. Here, we assess the increasing evidence that considering ejaculate composition as a whole (and potential trade-offs among ejaculate components) has important consequences for predictions about male reproductive investment and female responses to ejaculates. We review current theory and empirical work, and detail how social and environmental effects on ejaculate composition have potentially far-reaching fitness consequences for both sexes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer C Perry
- Edward Grey Institute, Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3PS, UK.
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25
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Heber S, Varsani A, Kuhn S, Girg A, Kempenaers B, Briskie J. The genetic rescue of two bottlenecked South Island robin populations using translocations of inbred donors. Proc Biol Sci 2012; 280:20122228. [PMID: 23235701 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2012.2228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Populations forced through bottlenecks typically lose genetic variation and exhibit inbreeding depression. 'Genetic rescue' techniques that introduce individuals from outbred populations can be highly effective in reversing the deleterious effects of inbreeding, but have limited application for the majority of endangered species, which survive only in a few bottlenecked populations. We tested the effectiveness of using highly inbred populations as donors to rescue two isolated and bottlenecked populations of the South Island robin (Petroica australis). Reciprocal translocations significantly increased heterozygosity and allelic diversity. Increased genetic diversity was accompanied by increased juvenile survival and recruitment, sperm quality, and immunocompetence of hybrid individuals (crosses between the two populations) compared with inbred control individuals (crosses within each population). Our results confirm that the implementation of 'genetic rescue' using bottlenecked populations as donors provides a way of preserving endangered species and restoring their viability when outbred donor populations no longer exist.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Heber
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Canterbury, Private Bag 4800, Christchurch 8041, New Zealand.
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26
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Abstract
Primate Sexuality. Comparative Studies of the Prosimians, Monkeys, Apes and Human Beings by Alan F. Dixson, Oxford University Press, 1998. £75.00 hbk, £32.50 pbk (656 pages) ISBN 0 19 850183 8/0 19 850182 X.
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Affiliation(s)
- A H Harcourt
- Dept of Anthropology, University of California, One Shields Ave, Davis, CA 95616, USA
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27
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Immler S, Gonzalez-Voyer A, Birkhead TR. Distinct evolutionary patterns of morphometric sperm traits in passerine birds. Proc Biol Sci 2012; 279:4174-82. [PMID: 22896646 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2012.1398] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The striking diversity of sperm shape across the animal kingdom is still poorly understood. Postcopulatory sexual selection is an important factor driving the evolution of sperm size and shape. Interestingly, morphometric sperm traits, such as the length of the head, midpiece and flagellum, exhibit a strong positive phenotypic correlation across species. Here we used recently developed comparative methods to investigate how such phenotypic correlations between morphometric sperm traits may evolve. We compare allometric relationships and evolutionary trajectories of three morphometric sperm traits (length of head, midpiece and flagellum) in passerine birds. We show that these traits exhibit strong phenotypic correlations but that allometry varies across families. In addition, the evolutionary trajectories of the midpiece and flagellum are similar while the trajectory for head length differs. We discuss our findings in the light of three scenarios accounting for correlated trait evolution: (i) genetic correlation; (ii) concerted response to selection acting simultaneously on different traits; and (iii) phenotypic correlation between traits driven by mechanistic constraints owing to selection on sperm performance. Our results suggest that concerted response to selection is the most likely explanation for the phenotypic correlation between morphometric sperm traits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simone Immler
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, , Western Bank, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK.
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28
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Stumpf RM, Martinez-Mota R, Milich KM, Righini N, Shattuck MR. Sexual conflict in primates. Evol Anthropol 2012; 20:62-75. [PMID: 22034105 DOI: 10.1002/evan.20297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
Sexual conflict is increasingly recognized as a major force for evolutionary change and holds great potential for delineating variation in primate behavior and morphology. The goals of this review are to highlight the rapidly rising field of sexual conflict and the ongoing shift in our understanding of interactions between the sexes. We discuss the evidence for sexual conflict within the Order Primates, and assess how studies of primates have illuminated and can continue to increase our understanding of sexual conflict and sexual selection. Finally, we introduce a framework for understanding the behavioral, anatomical, and genetic expression of sexual conflict across primate mating systems and suggest directions for future research.
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29
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Smith CC, Ryan MJ. Evolution of sperm quality but not quantity in the internally fertilized fish Xiphophorus nigrensis. J Evol Biol 2010; 23:1759-71. [PMID: 20626545 DOI: 10.1111/j.1420-9101.2010.02041.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Species with alternative reproductive strategies are characterized by discrete differences among males in suites of traits related to competition for fertilizations. Models predict sneaker males should allocate more resources to their ejaculates because they experience sperm competition more frequently and often occupy a disfavoured 'role' owing to subordinance in intramale competition and female preferences for larger males. We examined whether sperm number and quality differed between male strategies in the internally fertilized fish Xiphophorus nigrensis and explored the relationship between sperm morphology and performance. We found sneaker males had similar testes sizes compared to courting males but ejaculates with both more viable and longer lived sperm. Sneaker sperm also had longer midpieces, which was positively correlated with both velocity and longevity. Our study suggests that the evolution of sperm quantity and quality can be decoupled and that the sperm morphology is likely to play an important role in mediating sperm competition through its effects on sperm performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- C C Smith
- University of Texas at Austin, Section of Integrative Biology, Austin, TX 78712, USA.
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30
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Affiliation(s)
- R C Firman
- Centre for Evolutionary Biology, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, Australia.
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31
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Tourmente M, Gomendio M, Roldan ERS, Giojalas LC, Chiaraviglio M. Sperm competition and reproductive mode influence sperm dimensions and structure among snakes. Evolution 2009; 63:2513-24. [PMID: 19490075 DOI: 10.1111/j.1558-5646.2009.00739.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The role of sperm competition in increasing sperm length is a controversial issue, because findings from different taxa seem contradictory. We present a comparative study of 25 species of snakes with different levels of sperm competition to test whether it influences the size and structure of different sperm components. We show that, as levels of sperm competition increase, so does sperm length, and that this elongation is largely explained by increases in midpiece length. In snakes, the midpiece is comparatively large and it contains structures, which in other taxa are present in the rest of the flagellum, suggesting that it may integrate some of its functions. Thus, increases in sperm midpiece size would result in more energy as well as greater propulsion force. Sperm competition also increases the area occupied by the fibrous sheath and outer dense fibers within the sperm midpiece, revealing for the first time an effect upon structural elements within the sperm. Finally, differences in male-male encounter rates between oviparous and viviparous species seem to lead to differences in levels of sperm competition. We conclude that the influence of sperm competition upon different sperm components varies between taxa, because their structure and function is different.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maximiliano Tourmente
- Laboratorio de Biología del Comportamiento, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina.
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32
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Gil MC, García-Herreros M, Barón FJ, Aparicio IM, Santos AJ, García-Marín LJ. Morphometry of porcine spermatozoa and its functional significance in relation with the motility parameters in fresh semen. Theriogenology 2008; 71:254-63. [PMID: 18760833 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2008.07.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2007] [Revised: 07/11/2008] [Accepted: 07/12/2008] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Both the study and the relationship between sperm design and sperm function have been a target of several researchers. In our study we have evaluated the relationship between the morphometry of sperm head and midpiece as well as the relationship between morphometry of these two spermatic components and sperm motion characteristics in the boar. Analysis of regression (lineal and multiple) and principal components analysis were used for the study of these relationships. Semen samples from five Iberian boars were taken for analysis. Analysis of morphometry was assessed by CASMA system and motility by CASA system. Sperm midpiece showed a significant relationship (positive or negative, depending on the morphometric parameter evaluated) with sperm head. VSL, LIN, STR, BCF and VAP showed a significant relationship with several head and midpiece morphometric parameters. Finally, through the analysis of multiple lineal regression we obtained several statistical models that predict STR, LIN, VCL, ALH, BCF, PC1 and PC2 (the last two variables have been obtained from a principal components analysis) as a function of one, two or three morphometric parameters. Our results suggest a co-evolution of sperm head and midpiece and in addition that sperm motion characteristics of porcine spermatozoa are influenced by morphometry of head and midpiece.
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Affiliation(s)
- M C Gil
- Department of Animal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Extremadura, Cáceres, Spain.
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33
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Møller AP, Mousseau TA, Rudolfsen G. Females affect sperm swimming performance: a field experiment with barn swallows Hirundo rustica. Behav Ecol 2008. [DOI: 10.1093/beheco/arn068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
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34
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Immler S, Saint-Jalme M, Lesobre L, Sorci G, Roman Y, Birkhead TR. The evolution of sperm morphometry in pheasants. J Evol Biol 2007; 20:1008-14. [PMID: 17465911 DOI: 10.1111/j.1420-9101.2007.01302.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Post-copulatory sexual selection is thought to be a potent evolutionary force driving the diversification of sperm shape and function across species. In birds, insemination and fertilization are separated in time and sperm storage increases the duration of sperm-female interaction and hence the opportunity for sperm competition and cryptic female choice. We performed a comparative study of 24 pheasant species (Phasianidae, Galliformes) to establish the relative importance of sperm competition and the duration of sperm storage for the evolution of sperm morphometry (i.e. size of different sperm traits). We found that sperm size traits were negatively associated with the duration of sperm storage but were independent of the risk of sperm competition estimated from relative testis mass. Our study emphasizes the importance of female reproductive biology for the evolution of sperm morphometry particularly in sperm-storing taxa.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Immler
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK.
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Pattarini JM, Starmer WT, Bjork A, Pitnick S. MECHANISMS UNDERLYING THE SPERM QUALITY ADVANTAGE IN DROSOPHILA MELANOGASTER. Evolution 2007. [DOI: 10.1111/j.0014-3820.2006.tb01844.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
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Brennan PLR, Prum RO, McCracken KG, Sorenson MD, Wilson RE, Birkhead TR. Coevolution of male and female genital morphology in waterfowl. PLoS One 2007; 2:e418. [PMID: 17476339 PMCID: PMC1855079 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0000418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 138] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2006] [Accepted: 04/11/2007] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Most birds have simple genitalia; males lack external genitalia and females have simple vaginas. However, male waterfowl have a phallus whose length (1.5–>40 cm) and morphological elaborations vary among species and are positively correlated with the frequency of forced extra-pair copulations among waterfowl species. Here we report morphological complexity in female genital morphology in waterfowl and describe variation vaginal morphology that is unprecedented in birds. This variation comprises two anatomical novelties: (i) dead end sacs, and (ii) clockwise coils. These vaginal structures appear to function to exclude the intromission of the counter-clockwise spiralling male phallus without female cooperation. A phylogenetically controlled comparative analysis of 16 waterfowl species shows that the degree of vaginal elaboration is positively correlated with phallus length, demonstrating that female morphological complexity has co-evolved with male phallus length. Intersexual selection is most likely responsible for the observed coevolution, although identifying the specific mechanism is difficult. Our results suggest that females have evolved a cryptic anatomical mechanism of choice in response to forced extra-pair copulations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patricia L R Brennan
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, and Peabody Natural History Museum, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America.
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Calhim S, Immler S, Birkhead TR. Postcopulatory sexual selection is associated with reduced variation in sperm morphology. PLoS One 2007; 2:e413. [PMID: 17476335 PMCID: PMC1855076 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0000413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 129] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2006] [Accepted: 04/10/2007] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The evolutionary role of postcopulatory sexual selection in shaping male reproductive traits, including sperm morphology, is well documented in several taxa. However, previous studies have focused almost exclusively on the influence of sperm competition on variation among species. In this study we tested the hypothesis that intraspecific variation in sperm morphology is driven by the level of postcopulatory sexual selection in passerine birds. METHODOLOGY/FINDINGS Using two proxy measures of sperm competition level, (i) relative testes size and (ii) extrapair paternity level, we found strong evidence that intermale variation in sperm morphology is negatively associated with the degree of postcopulatory sexual selection, independently of phylogeny. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE Our results show that the role of postcopulatory sexual selection in the evolution of sperm morphology extends to an intraspecific level, reducing the variation towards what might be a species-specific 'optimum' sperm phenotype. This finding suggests that while postcopulatory selection is generally directional (e.g., favouring longer sperm) across avian species, it also acts as a stabilising evolutionary force within species under intense selection, resulting in reduced variation in sperm morphology traits. We discuss some potential evolutionary mechanisms for this pattern.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Calhim
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom.
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Abstract
Spermatozoa exhibit taxonomically widespread patterns of divergent morphological evolution. However, the adaptive significance of variation in sperm morphology remains unclear. In this study we examine the role of natural variation in sperm length on fertilization success in the dung beetle Onthophagus taurus. We conducted sperm competition trials between males that differed in the length of their sperm and determined the paternity of resulting offspring using amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) markers. We also quantified variation in the size and shape of the female's sperm storage organ to determine whether female morphology influenced the competitiveness of different sperm morphologies. We found that fertilization success was biased toward males with relatively shorter sperm, but that selection on sperm length was dependent on female tract morphology; selection was directional for reduced sperm length across most of the spermathecal size range, but stabilizing in females with the smallest spermathecae. Our data provide empirical support for the theory that sperm competition should favor the evolution of numerous tiny sperm. Moreover, because sperm length is both heritable and genetically correlated with condition, our results are consistent with a process by which females can accrue genetic benefits for their offspring from the incitement of sperm competition and/or cryptic female choice, as proposed by the "sexy sperm" and "good sperm" models for the evolution of polyandry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francisco García-González
- Centre for Evolutionary Biology, School of Animal Biology (M092), The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Western Australia 6009, Australia.
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Abstract
The gametes of man and some other Eutheria have been manipulated successfully for practical reasons, but many gaps remain in our basic understanding of the way that they function. This situation stems not least from a failure to recognize the extent to which eutherian spermatozoa and eggs, and elements related to their operation, have come to differ from those of other groups. Novel features in the male that reflect this include a radical design of the sperm head with the acrosome seeming to function primarily in egg-coat binding rather than its lysis, a multifaceted post-testicular sperm maturation and an androgen/low-temperature-regulated system of sperm storage--both tied to the epididymis, a variable male accessory sex gland complex, and descent of the testis and epididymis to a scrotum. In the female, such novelties are represented in a need for sperm capacitation, in an unusual regulation of sperm transport within the oviduct, in the cumulus oophorus and character of the zona pellucida around the small egg, and in a unique configuration of gamete fusion. The collective evidence now suggests that many of these features reflect a new fertilisation strategy or its consequences, with most being causally linked. One initial 'domino' in this regard appears to be the small yolkless state of the egg and its intolerance for polyspermy, as determinants of the unusual mode of oviductal sperm transport and possibly the existence and form of the cumulus oophorus. However, a particularly influential first 'domino' appears to be the physical character of the eutherian zona pellucida. This differs from the egg coats of other animal groups by virtue of a resilient elasticity and thickness. These qualities allow this primary and often only coat to stretch and so persist during later expansion of the blastocyst, usually until close to implantation. At the same time, the dimensions, physical character, and particularly the relative protease-insensitivity of the zona appear to have had profound effects on sperm form and function and, more indirectly, on sperm-related events in the male and the female tract. Marsupials display some similarities and also some strikingly different features, against which the enigmas of the eutherian situation can be evaluated.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Michael Bedford
- Centre for Reproductive Medicine and Infertility, Weill Medical College, Cornell University, New York, NY 10021, USA.
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Immler S, Birkhead TR. Sperm competition and sperm midpiece size: no consistent pattern in passerine birds. Proc Biol Sci 2007; 274:561-8. [PMID: 17476777 PMCID: PMC1766377 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2006.3752] [Citation(s) in RCA: 84] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2006] [Accepted: 10/08/2006] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Sperm competition is thought to be a major force driving the evolution of sperm shape and function. However, previous studies investigating the relationship between the risk of sperm competition and sperm morphometry revealed inconclusive results and marked differences between taxonomic groups. In a comparative study of two families of passerines (Fringillidae and Sylviidae) and also across species belonging to different passerine families, we investigated the relative importance of the phylogenetic background on the relationship between sperm morphometry and the risk of sperm competition. The risk of sperm competition was inferred from relative testis mass as an indicator of investment in sperm production. We found: (i) a significant positive association between both midpiece length and flagellum length and relative testis mass in the Fringillidae, (ii) a significant negative association between sperm trait dimensions and relative testis mass in the Sylviidae, and (iii) no association across all species. Despite the striking difference in the patterns shown by the Sylviidae and the Fringillidae, the relationship between midpiece length and flagellum length was positive in both families and across all species with positive allometry. Reasons for the differences and similarities between passerine families are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simone Immler
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK.
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Anderson MJ, Dixson AS, Dixson AF. Mammalian sperm and oviducts are sexually selected: evidence for co-evolution. J Zool (1987) 2006. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-7998.2006.00173.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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Skinner AM, Watt PJ. Phenotypic correlates of spermatozoon quality in the guppy, Poecilia reticulata. Behav Ecol 2006. [DOI: 10.1093/beheco/arl049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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Parag A, Bennett NC, Faulkes CG, Bateman PW. Penile morphology of African mole rats (Bathyergidae): structural modification in relation to mode of ovulation and degree of sociality. J Zool (1987) 2006. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-7998.2006.00141.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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Bouchie L, Bennett NC, Jackson T, Waterman JM. ARE CAPE GROUND SQUIRRELS (XERUS INAURIS) INDUCED OR SPONTANEOUS OVULATORS? J Mammal 2006. [DOI: 10.1644/04-mamm-a-192r1.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
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Pattarini JM, Starmer WT, Bjork A, Pitnick S. MECHANISMS UNDERLYING THE SPERM QUALITY ADVANTAGE IN DROSOPHILA MELANOGASTER. Evolution 2006. [DOI: 10.1554/06-142.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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Sperm traits of the quacking frog, Crinia georgiana: intra- and interpopulation variation in a species with a high risk of sperm competition. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2005. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-005-0062-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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Harcourt AH. Sexual selection and sperm competition in primates: What are male genitalia good for? Evol Anthropol 2005. [DOI: 10.1002/evan.1360040404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
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Córdoba-Aguilar A. Possible coevolution of male and female genital form and function in a calopterygid damselfly. J Evol Biol 2005; 18:132-7. [PMID: 15669969 DOI: 10.1111/j.1420-9101.2004.00796.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
In this paper some evolutionary changes of genitalia in the damselfly Calopteryx haemorrhoidalis are investigated by determining their current and past function. Calopteryx haemorrhoidalis males stimulate females by aedeagal frictioning on a set of vaginal sensilla. The aedeagus is considerably variable and positively correlates with volumes of ejected sperm from the spermatheca. Interestingly, females show a significantly reduced sensillum number compared with other family members. Here I explore whether there existed directional selection for aedeagal width at its evolutionary onset; and whether the sensillum reduction evolved to make sperm ejection less effective. Using C. haemorrhoidalis aedeagi in females whose species retained the ancestral conditions (no stimulatory ability and large sensillum numbers), Hetaerina cruentata and C. xanthostoma, my results corroborated these assumptions: variation in aedeagal width inversely correlated with sperm ejection rate while sperm ejection was higher in species with high sensillum numbers. A suggested coevolutionary interpretation of these results in C. haemorrhoidalis is that aedeagal width was favoured which was followed by a sensillum reduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Córdoba-Aguilar
- Instituto de Ecología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, México, DF.
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50
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Stumpf RM, Boesch C. Does promiscuous mating preclude female choice? Female sexual strategies in chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes verus) of the Ta� National Park, C�te d?Ivoire. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2004. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-004-0868-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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