Mating competitiveness and fertility of thiotepa-sterilized flies

Summary In the present investigation, an attempt has been made to study the mating competitiveness and fertility of males as well as females ofDacus dorsalis Hendel (Diptera: Tephritidae) treated topically with thiotepa. In the mixed population, treated flies of either sex were found to be sexually more vigorous than untreated flies. However when the mating competitiveness of either sex was determined separately using various methods, treated males were found not to differ significantly in sexual competitiveness from untreated flies. Receptivity of treated and untreated females to males was also studied by the single choice method. Thiotepa-treated and untreated females were found to be equally receptive to males.     

Sexual isolation betweenDrosophila melanogaster females andD. simulans males. Male mating propensities versus success in hybridization

Genetic variation has been found in males of aD. simulans population for their eagerness to hybridize withD. melanogaster females. In a search for traits involved in this hybridization, males ofD. simulans were tested for mating speed and sexual vigour. Between-male differences were detected in both sexual traits, but no relationship was noticed between them, nor with the frequency of hybridization. Thus male mating propensities appear to be unrelated to the breakdown of sexual isolation between these sibling species.     

Mating patterns of virgin and inseminatedDrosophila melanogaster of different alcohol dehydrogenase (Adh) genotypes

Summary Female choice mating experiments showed virgin femaleD. melanogaster of the 3Adh genotypes chose heterozygous (Adh ^F /Adh ^S ) males most commonly. Inseminated females chose mates randomly, but the likelihood of a female remating was genotypically dependent.Acknowledgment. Financial support was provided by the Australian Research Grants Commitee.     

The role of assortative mating among age-classes inDrosophila melanogaster: preliminary results

Summary A series of experiments on age-related mating success and productivity provides evidence for assortative mating among three out of four age-classes inD. melanogaster. The preferred mating does not always result in the highest productivity. Three age classes of males contribute to reproduction while only females of the youngest age-class are involved. The progeny size is more affected by the age of the females than that of males. It is assumed that these findings must have important implications for generation overlap in natural populations.     

Plasma triglyceride and β-hydroxybutyric acid levels in red-sided garter snakes (Thamnophis sirtalis parietalis) at emergence from hibernation

Measurement of plasma levels of triglycerides and -hydroxybutyric acid in females and males of the red-sided garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis parietalis) suggest that the former may provide a useful physiological marker of condition. Levels of triglycerides at emergence from hibernation during a month of natural aphagia were significantly greater in females than in males and she-males, a subset of the male population that mimics females. Higher levels of triglycerides in the females may be attributed to their greater body mass per unit length, which was correlated with the level of triglycerides. Plasma triglyceride levels declined in females within one month of emergence, at the onset of feeding, and were unrelated to mating.     

Über den Auslesewert chromosomaler Strukturtypen vonDrosophila subobscura unter experimentellen Bedingungen

Summary In artificial populations ofDrosophila subobscura, arising from the mating of strains of different origin and different chromosomal structure, it was demonstrated that also in the X-chromosome an adaptive equilibrium is reached between two different structural types, although heterosis only acts in the females. There is a significant excess of females in the hybrid-generation in both reciprocal matings, especially at low temperature. The sexratio of the pure strains is 1:1. The excess may be caused by a selective advantage of the structurally heterozygous females in competition with the hemizygous males.     

Schistosoma mansoni: A chemoattractive factor released by males and its receptor in females

Chemoattraction between developing (23- to 28-day-old) and adult (10- to 12-week-old)Schistosoma mansoni males and females has been described previously. We report here on in vitro attraction of mature worms to released products of worms of the opposite sex. In the absence of a stimulus worms migrated randomly and did not show any preference in their orientation. Males were not significantly attracted to released products of females. Females exhibited greatest attraction to released products of males, and some attraction to the lipid fraction of released products of males. The aqueous fraction of male-released products slightly repelled females. Prior exposure to released products of males rendered females unresponsive to subsequent exposure, suggesting receptor saturation. These findings have important potential implicatons for the control of schistosomiasis by intercepting attraction and mating between males and females.     

Hormonal control of pheromone responsiveness in the male black cutwormAgrotis ipsilon

In Lepidoptera, reproduction is linked to chemical communication between conspecific partners. When exposed to the female sex pheromone, males respond by exhibiting typical sexual behaviour which leads to mating. Here we show that presence of the juvenile hormone producing gland (corpora allata) of the male black cutworm,Agrotis ipsilon, is necessary for pheromone responsiveness. Allatectomized males do not show any sexual behaviour, although their antennal olfactory system is functional. Allatectomized males implanted with active corpora allata recover full pheromone receptivity. It is suggested that reproductive processes are synchronized in males and females through endocrine control; timing of the mating activity could serve as an adaptive strategy linked to the migratory behaviour of this species.     

Mating patterns of virgin and inseminated Drosophila melanogaster of different alcohol dehydrogenase (Adh) genotypes

Female choice mating experiments showed virgin female D.melanogaster of the 3 Adh genotypes chose heterozygous (AdhF/AdhS) males most commonly. Inseminated females chose mates randomly, but the likelihood of a female remating was genotypically dependent.     

Effect of a steroid contraceptive, "Enidrel" on the pre- and postnatal development of rats

To determine the long-term effects of prolonged and intensive treatment with an anticonceptive steroid, 60 female Wistar rats were given 1 mg/kg/day Enidrel (norethynodrel plus ethinyl estradiol 3-methyl-ether) by gastric sound for 60 days. The animals were divided into 2 groups and were placed with males for 10 days. Group 1 continued to recieve Enidrel through mating to the 15th day of gestation; Group 2 received no further treatment. General behavior and weight of the animals was unchanged when compared with controls. There were profound disturbances in the estrous cycle, but couplings and number of impregnations were normal in both groups. Most of the females in Group 1 aborted normal fetuses between Gestation Days 8 and 15; those in Groups 2 continued to term. Group 1 animals were remated and siblings of the 1st generation were crossed. The animals were fertile and the ne onates developed normally. It is concluded that Enidrel had no effect on morphogenesis and no masculinization effect on the hypophyso-hypothalamic system, as evidenced by the normal sexual behavior and fertility of the females.     

Can we predict the mating pattern of Drosophila females from the sperm length distribution in males?

In order to test the validity of the prediction of the mating pattern of females from the sperm length distribution in males, three species of Drosophila were analysed. Males in the three species are equally polygynous but females differ in the level of polyandry. A 'low recurrence polyandry' is observed in the sperm dimorphic species D. affinis while a 'high recurrence polyandry' is observed in the sperm monomorphic species D. latifasciaeformis and D. littoralis. These results are consistent with the hypothesis proposed previously that sperm dimorphism in males can only be maintained by a selective alternative in females (i.e. facultative female polygamy), whereas a stricter mating system (e.g. 'obligatory' polyandry) should only result in sperm monomorphism irrespective of the absolute value of sperm length.     

Can we predict the mating pattern ofDrosophila females from the sperm length distribution in males?

Summary In order to test the validity of the prediction of the mating pattern of females from the sperm length distribution in males, three species ofDrosophila were analysed. Males in the three species are equally polygynous but females differ in the level of polyandry. A low recurrence polyandry is observed in the sperm dimorphic speciesD. affinis while a high recurrence polyandry is observed in the sperm monomorphic speciesD. latifasciaeformis andD. littoralis. These results are consistent with the hypothesis proposed previously that sperm dimorphism in males can only be maintained by a selective alternative in females (i.e. facultative female polygamy), whereas a stricter mating system (e.g., obligatory polyandry) should only result in sperm monomorphism irrespective of the absolute value of sperm length.     

Zuchtversuche mit geschlechtskonvertierten Krallenfröschen (Xenopus laevis)

Summary Sex-converted males and females of Xenopus were raised to sexual maturity. Cross-breeding proves that the entire differentiation and reproductive function of females can occur in animals of the genetic constitutionZZ andWW as well as the normalZW. Moreover, functional males have been obtained with theZW as well as theZZ constitution. Experiments with the aim of producing alsoWW males are in progress. It is concluded that the sex genes and chromosomes which in normal reproduction decide male or female direction of differentiation are restricted in their activity, to the very first steps of normal sex development.

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Arbeiten unterstützt durch Grant No. G-14057 der National Science Foundation und Grant No. C-3993 des National Institute of Health (USPHS).     

Assortative mating between chromosome forms of the mole rat,Spalax ehrenbergi

Females of two parapatric chromosomal forms (2n=52 and 2n=58) of the fossorial mole rat,Spalax ehrenbergi, in Israel, were tested for mate selection between two alternative, a homo- and a heterochromosomal, males. Estrous females significantly preferred the male of their own chromosomal form, on the basis of several behavioural criteria. The evolutionary significance of the positive assortative mating found, lies presumably in reinforcing reproductive isolation between the chromosome forms, thereby contributing to finalize speciation.     

Schistosoma mansoni: a chemoattractive factor released by males and its receptor in females

Chemoattraction between developing (23- to 28-day-old) and adult (10- to 12-week-old) Schistosoma mansoni males and females has been described previously. We report here on in vitro attraction of mature worms to released products of worms of the opposite sex. In the absence of a stimulus worms migrated randomly and did not show any preference in their orientation. Males were not significantly attracted to released products of females. Females exhibited greatest attraction to released products of males, and some attraction to the lipid fraction of released products of males. The aqueous fraction of male-released products slightly repelled females. Prior exposure to released products of males rendered females unresponsive to subsequent exposure, suggesting receptor saturation. These findings have important potential implications for the control of schistosomiasis by intercepting attraction and mating between males and females.     

Sex-peptides: seminal peptides of the <Emphasis Type="Italic">Drosophila</Emphasis> male

Mating affects the reproductive behaviour of insect females: the egg-laying rate increases and courting males are rejected. These post-mating responses are induced mainly by seminal fluid. In Drosophila melanogaster, males transfer two peptides (sex-peptides, = Sps) that reduce receptivity and elicit increased egg laying in their mating partners. Similarities in the open reading frames of the genes suggest that they have arisen by gene duplication. In females, Sps bind to specific sites in the central and peripheral nervous system, and to the genital tract. The binding proteins of the nervous system and genital tract are membrane proteins, but they differ molecularly. The former protein is proposed to be a receptor located at the top of a signalling cascade leading to the two post-mating responses, whereas the latter is a carrier protein moving Sps from the genital tract into the haemolymph. Sps bind to sperm. Together with sperm they are responsible for the persistence of the two post-mating responses. But Sps are the molecular basis of the sperm effect; sperm is merely the carrier.Received 10 February 2003; received after revision 25 April 2003; accepted 1 May 2003This article is dedicated to the 85th birthday of the discover of the sex-peptide, Prof. Dr. Pei Shen Chen, Zoological Institute, University of Zürich, Switzerland. P. S. Chen has served on the Editorial Board of Experientia (now CMLS) from 1974 to 1988.     

A visual stimulus in the courtship ofDrosophila suzukii

Summary The males ofDrosophila suzukii have a specific black spot on their wings and this was surgically removed. In this situation, the males were almost normally accepted by the females when they were stored under a diurnal light-dark cycle, but they were somewhat discriminated against by the females previously exposed to continuous light.     

Light dependent mating inhibition in the white-eye mutant ofDrosophila pseudoobscura

Summary White-eyeDrosophila pseudoobscura males display a deficiency in their mating ability in the light, although they are able to mate readily in the dark. The present data suggest that the mating deficit is due to a neurobehavioral disruption produced by faulty visual input.     

Biological studies onPseudohypocera kerteszi (Phoridae,Diptera)

Summary 15 couples ofPseudohypocera kerteszi were introduced into individual tubes containing culture medium, maintained at 22–28°C and 45–55% relative humidity. The courtship and the behaviour of males and females before and after the copula are described for the first time; the number of eggs laid by each female during the oviposition period and the sexual rate in offspring were registered in each tube. The relative viability from egg to imago was determined in 8 of the 15 tubes.This study was made possible by a grant of the State of São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP).     

Effect ofBlumea eriantha (compositae) oil on reproduction inEarias vittella F.

Summary Exposure ofEarias vittella adults to vapors ofBlumea eriantha oil reduced their mating ability, predominantly the males were affected.