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Sperm storage secretion of female cellar spiders ( Pholcus phalangioides ; Araneae): a gel‐electrophoretic analysis
Author(s) -
Uhl Gabriele
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
journal of zoology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.915
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1469-7998
pISSN - 0952-8369
DOI - 10.1111/j.1469-7998.1996.tb05492.x
Subject(s) - sperm , biology , secretion , staining , desiccation , andrology , spider , zoology , anatomy , microbiology and biotechnology , endocrinology , ecology , botany , genetics , medicine
Glandular secretion in the genital cavity of female Pholcus phalangioides was removed and investigated gel‐electrophoretically. Different staining techniques indicate that the secretion contains proteinaceous substances. Some protein fragments show a clear reaction to glyco‐ and lipoprotein staining procedures. After copulation, female P. phalangioides keep the spermatozoa embedded in the secretion in the genital cavity. Since the spermatozoa are immobile, i.e. coiled and encapsulated, until shortly before oviposition, a nutritive function of the secretion during sperm storage is unlikely. The viscous quality of the material probably serves to retain the sperm mass in the sperm storage site. Lipoproteinaceous components are assumed to prevent desiccation of the sperm mass. Retaining the spermatozoa and maintaining them in a favourable environment are the most plausible functions of the secretion of female P. phalangioides. In spider species which possess receptacula seminis other functions can be attributed to sperm storage secretions.