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Gene expression changes in male accessory glands during ageing are accompanied by reproductive decline in Drosophila melanogaster
Author(s) -
Koppik Mareike,
Fricke Claudia
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
molecular ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.619
H-Index - 225
eISSN - 1365-294X
pISSN - 0962-1083
DOI - 10.1111/mec.14384
Subject(s) - biology , drosophila melanogaster , mating , ageing , senescence , reproductive success , gene , gene expression , reproductive system , genetics , reproductive biology , andrology , drosophila (subgenus) , physiology , endocrinology , medicine , population , demography , embryogenesis , sociology
Senescence is accompanied by loss of reproductive functions. Here, we studied reproductive ageing in Drosophila melanogaster males and asked whether the expected decline in male reproductive success is due to diminished functionality of the male accessory gland ( AG ). The male AG produces the majority of seminal fluid proteins ( SFP s) transferred to the female at mating. SFP s induce female postmating changes and are key to male reproductive success. We measured age‐dependent gene expression changes for five representative SFP genes in males from four different age groups ranging from 1 to 6 weeks after eclosion. Simultaneously, we also measured male reproductive success in postmating traits mediated by transfer of these five SFP s. We found a decreased in male SFP gene expression with advancing age and an accompanying decline in male postmating success. Hence, male reproductive senescence is associated with a decline in functionality of the male AG . While overall individual SFP genes decreased in expression, our results point towards the idea that the composition of an ejaculate might change with male age as the rate of change was variable for those five genes.