Mating Stimulates the Immune Response and Sperm Storage-Related Genes Expression in Spermathecae of Bumblebee (Bombus terrestris) Queen.

ABSTRACT: Bumblebee queens have remarkable spermathecae that store sperm for year-round reproduction. The spermathecal gland is regarded as a secretory organ that could benefit sperm storage. Queen mating provokes substantial physiological, behavioral, and gene expression changes. Here, the transcriptomes of spermathecae were compared between virgins and mated queens of the bumblebee, Bombus terrestris L., at 24 h post mating. Differentially expressed genes were further validated by real time quantitative PCR and immunofluorescence assay. In total, the expression of 11, 069 and 10, 862 genes were identified in virgins and mated queens, respectively. We identified that 176 differentially expressed genes between virgin and mated queen spermathecae: 110 (62.5%) genes were upregulated, and 66 (37

SUBMITTER: Guo Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8661091 | biostudies-literature | 2021

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature