Dixson Alan F, Anderson Matthew J
Center for Reproduction of Endangered Species, Zoological Society of San Diego, Post Office Box 120551, San Diego, CA 92112-0551, USA.
Physiol Behav. 2004 Nov 15;83(2):361-71. doi: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2004.08.022.
Sperm competition involves competition between the gametes of two or more males of a species for fertilization of a given set of ova. Sperm competition is widespread among mammals, as in many other groups of vertebrates. Effects of sexual selection, via sperm competition, upon the evolution of reproductive physiology and behavior are much better understood in invertebrates (and especially in insects) than is the case for mammals. However, if the reproductive organs of male mammals are viewed as an integrated system for production and delivery of spermatozoa (and accessory glandular secretions) to females, then it is logical to assume that sperm competition might influence the evolution of all parts of the system, as well as associated physiological mechanisms (e.g., testicular endocrinology) and behavior (e.g., copulatory patterns). Here we analyze and review relationships between mating systems, relative testes sizes and sperm morphology, phallic morphology, circulating testosterone levels and sexual behavior in male mammals.
精子竞争是指一个物种中两个或多个雄性的配子为使一组特定的卵子受精而展开的竞争。和许多其他脊椎动物群体一样,精子竞争在哺乳动物中很普遍。与哺乳动物相比,在无脊椎动物(尤其是昆虫)中,通过精子竞争产生的性选择对生殖生理和行为进化的影响得到了更好的理解。然而,如果将雄性哺乳动物的生殖器官视为一个用于生产精子并将其(以及附属腺分泌物)输送给雌性的整合系统,那么合乎逻辑的假设是,精子竞争可能会影响该系统所有部分的进化,以及相关的生理机制(如睾丸内分泌学)和行为(如交配模式)。在此,我们分析并综述了雄性哺乳动物的交配系统、相对睾丸大小与精子形态、阴茎形态、循环睾酮水平和性行为之间的关系。