Genetic variation for resistance to high temperature stress of mature sperm - a study in Drosophila

TY - JOUR

T1 - Genetic variation for resistance to high temperature stress of mature sperm - a study in Drosophila

AU - Bundgaard, Jørgen

AU - Barker, J.S.F.

PY - 2017

Y1 - 2017

N2 - Genetic variation for resistance to heat stress has been found for a number of life-history components in Drosophila species. For male and female fertility (or sterility), stress resistance of the parents is confounded with stress resistance of the haploid gametes. Many genes are known to influence male fertility in Drosophila melanogaster. Some may carry temperature sensitive alleles that reduce fertility through effects on mature sperm when exposed to heat stress. In this study, sperm from each of 320 males were either not heat shocked (control) or exposed to a heat shock (36.9ÊC for 2 hours) either in the male testes or in the female reproductive tract. We did not detect any temperature sensitive sterility alleles. These results are relevant in relation to haploid gene expression and the findings of considerable amounts of mRNA in mature sperm, potentially important for sperm function and fertilization.

AB - Genetic variation for resistance to heat stress has been found for a number of life-history components in Drosophila species. For male and female fertility (or sterility), stress resistance of the parents is confounded with stress resistance of the haploid gametes. Many genes are known to influence male fertility in Drosophila melanogaster. Some may carry temperature sensitive alleles that reduce fertility through effects on mature sperm when exposed to heat stress. In this study, sperm from each of 320 males were either not heat shocked (control) or exposed to a heat shock (36.9ÊC for 2 hours) either in the male testes or in the female reproductive tract. We did not detect any temperature sensitive sterility alleles. These results are relevant in relation to haploid gene expression and the findings of considerable amounts of mRNA in mature sperm, potentially important for sperm function and fertilization.

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85016633225&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1371/journal.pone.0173990

DO - 10.1371/journal.pone.0173990

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 28358879

SN - 1932-6203

VL - 12

JO - P L o S One

JF - P L o S One

IS - 3

M1 - e017399

ER -