It definitely takes two when it comes to take a leak baby flies . Scientists have known for twelvemonth that wing semen can trigger ovulation and make female lay more eggs . But no one knew on the button what those proteins did to the female reproductive tract . A new bailiwick published in PNAStakes a deep look inside fruit flies to find out .
The research squad , led by Mariana F. Wolfner at Cornell University , newsflash - freeze female Drosphilia melanogaster in liquid N during and at set times after mate . They have eminent - resolution microCT scans of those animals , getting 3D snapshot of how the female reproductive tract alter shape after they had gender . By comparing those results to images they collected from female they mated to mutant males lacking specific seminal protein , they determined which shape change were because of the chemical inside semen .
They discovered that seminal protein make eggs move through female reproductive social organization . Soon after Drosphilia mating ends , these protein make the uterus elaborate enough to match an egg inside , then contract snugly around the testis to withstand it in seat for impregnation . Another protein , call ovulin , uncoils loop in the oviduct to let eggs pass through . Seminal proteins also make eggs mature , swell the ovaries until the female person ’s abdomen is full of eggs .
How does semen have such a widespread effect on a female ’s procreative system ? Wolfner ’s squad found one potential grounds : the tip of the male person ’s aedeagus – his interpretation of a phallus – punctures the female ’s vagina while they copulate . you’re able to see this happening in the image to the left hand : the aedeagus , outlined by back breaker , pokes through the muscular wall of the vagina ( M ) at the arrow , immediately behind his ejaculate ( E ) . In flies , blood is n’t cooped up in vas ; rather , it surround and bath all the tissue in the body . A leak in the vagina that frees a little semen can let those proteins travel all over the soundbox .
[ Mattei et al . 2015 ]
image fromMattei et al . 2015
touch the author at[email protect ] .
Animals
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