Pascini Tales V, Martins Gustavo F
Departamento de Biologia Geral, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, 36570-900 Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
Departamento de Biologia Geral, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, 36570-900 Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
Zoology (Jena). 2017 Apr;121:56-71. doi: 10.1016/j.zool.2016.12.001. Epub 2016 Dec 5.
In the female insect, the spermatheca is an ectodermal organ responsible for receiving, maintaining, and releasing sperm to fertilize eggs. The number and morphology of spermathecae vary according to species. Within the spermathecal lumen, substances in the semen and secretions from the spermathecal gland nourish the sperm. Thus, the spermatheca provides an appropriate environment that ensures the long-term viability of sperm. Maintaining sperm viability for long periods within the spermatheca is crucial for insect reproductive success; however, the details of this process remain poorly understood. This review examines several aspects of and gaps in the current understanding of spermatheca biology, including morphology, function, reservoir filling, development, and biochemistry. Despite the importance of the spermatheca in insects, there is little information on the gland secretions and their role in the maintenance and protection of male gametes. Furthermore, in this review, we highlight the current information on spermathecal gland secretions and the likely roles they play in the maintenance and protection of sperm.
在雌性昆虫中，受精囊是一种外胚层器官，负责接收、储存和释放精子以使卵子受精。受精囊的数量和形态因物种而异。在受精囊腔内，精液中的物质和受精囊腺的分泌物滋养精子。因此，受精囊提供了一个确保精子长期存活的适宜环境。在受精囊内长期维持精子的活力对昆虫的繁殖成功至关重要；然而，这一过程的细节仍知之甚少。本综述探讨了目前对受精囊生物学理解的几个方面和差距，包括形态学、功能、储存填充、发育和生物化学。尽管受精囊在昆虫中很重要，但关于腺分泌物及其在维持和保护雄配子方面的作用的信息却很少。此外，在本综述中，我们强调了目前关于受精囊腺分泌物的信息以及它们在维持和保护精子中可能发挥的作用。
