Sexual selection is known to play a major role in the evolution of insect sperm size, whereas natural selection is thought to be a major driver of insect egg size. Despite these differing forms of selection operating, it is possible coevolution between male and female gametes can occur owing to their vital interactions during fertilization. We tested egg-sperm coevolution in insects and found that longer sperm correlated to longer and wider eggs. Moreover, the size of the entry point of sperm into insect eggs (micropyles), was positively related to the diameter of sperm, on average being approximately three times the diameter of the sperm. This suggests a function in reducing and channelling sperm entry, but potentially still leaving space for movement. Our work suggests that greater attention needs to be paid to egg-sperm interactions prior to the point of fertilization as they may influence the evolution of gametes.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2024.0525 | DOI Listing |
Poult Sci
January 2025
College of Animal Science and Technology, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha 410128, China. Electronic address:
To investigate the regulatory mechanism mediated by hypothalamic OPN5 on seasonal changes in the reproductive activities of domestic geese, 60 Magang ganders in their breeding period were selected for the experiment and evenly divided into an immunization group(OPN5-IM) and a control group. On days 0, 15 and 30, ganders in the immunized group were immunized with OPN5-KLH protein vaccine, and ganders in the control were immunized with the same amount of blank emulsified vaccine. Additionally, 120 female geese were provided to stimulate the reproductive activities of male geese.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Assist Reprod Genet
January 2025
NHC Key Laboratory of Human Stem Cell and Reproductive Engineering, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, China.
Purpose: This study identified novel variants of the FSIP2 and SPEF2 genes in multiple morphological abnormalities of the sperm flagella (MMAF) patients and to investigate the potential effect of variations on male infertility and assisted reproductive outcomes.
Methods: Whole-exome sequencing was performed in 106 Chinese MMAF patients. The discovered variants were evaluated in silico and confirmed by Sanger sequencing.
Poult Sci
December 2024
Farm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, PR China; State Key Laboratory of Swine and Poultry Breeding Industry, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, PR China. Electronic address:
Libido plays a crucial role in influencing semen quality, yet the underlying regulatory mechanisms remain unclear. As a central axis in male goose reproduction, the hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular-external genitalia (HPTE) axis may contribute to the regulation of this process. In this study, we established a rating scale for goose libido based on average number of massages to erection (ANM) and the erection type, and evaluated semen quality across the entire flock.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFDrug Dev Ind Pharm
January 2025
Department of Veterinary Pathology, College of Veterinary Sciences, Lala Lajpat Rai University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Hisar, India.
Objective: Genotoxicity assays include micronucleus test, comet assay, and malformed sperm head used to investigate the protective potential of quercetin (Que) and Que nanoparticles against imidacloprid (IMI)-induced genotoxicity in Swiss albino mice.
Methods: The ionic gelation procedure was used to synthesize the Que nanoparticles and characterized for their hydrodynamic diameter, zeta potential, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), FT-IR, and encapsulation efficiency. A total of 48 mice were taken in eight groups with six animals in each group.
Mol Biol Cell
December 2024
Department of Cell Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Texas 75235, USA.
Cilia and flagella play a crucial role in the development and function of eukaryotes. The activity of thousands of dyneins is precisely regulated to generate flagellar motility. The complex proteome (600+ proteins) and architecture of the structural core of flagella, the axoneme, have made it challenging to dissect the functions of the different complexes, like the regulatory machinery.
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