Science. 1989 Sep 8;245(4922):1098-100. doi: 10.1126/science.245.4922.1098.
Release of mature sperm from the testis into seminal ducts of the gypsy moth exhibits a circadian rhythm. The rhythm of sperm release was shown to persist in vitro, in isolated complexes of testis and seminal ducts cultured in light-dark cycles or in constant darkness. The phase of the rhythm was also reset in vitro by exposure to shifted light-dark cycles. Therefore, the testis-seminal ducts complex from the gypsy moth is photosensitive and contains a circadian pacemaker, which controls the rhythm of sperm movement. This finding extends the range of structures in multicellular organisms that are known to contain circadian oscillators and provides a new model system in which circadian mechanisms may be studied.
从睾丸向野蚕蛾精液管中释放成熟精子表现出昼夜节律。已经证明,该精子释放节律在体外持续存在,在光-暗循环或持续黑暗中培养的睾丸和精液管的分离复合体中持续存在。通过暴露于移位的光-暗循环,该节律的相位也在体外重新设置。因此,野蚕蛾的睾丸-精液管复合体具有感光性并且包含控制精子运动节律的生物钟。这一发现扩展了已知包含昼夜节律振荡器的多细胞生物的结构范围,并提供了一个新的模型系统,可以在其中研究昼夜节律机制。