LAUSR

© 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. & M Female Drosophila retain sperm for up to two weeks post-copulation in a network of storage organs includng the bursa, the seminal receptacle, and the spermathecae. This image shows the seminal receptacle of a Drosophila melanogaster female, 2-hrs post-copulation between a LHM (wild-type) female with a male transgenic for fl uorescently tagged Protamine B (green), and -Tubulin (blue), whose sperm can be visualized within the female. This ‘infi nity’ structure of the seminal receptacle resembles the tubular coil that allows for the storage of very long sperm relative to female body size –up to 20 times the length of the female in some Drosophila species. These unusually long sperm carry essential seminal proteins from the male, which are gradually released from the gamete during their storage in the female (Adams and Wolfner. 2007. J. Insect Physiol. 53:319). These seminal proteins change female behavior, reducing the inclination to mate with other males; altering female feeding, immunity, longevity; and inducing relaxation of the oviduct for copulatory-induced ovulation (Mattei et al. 2015. PNAS. 112:8475). After these male-derived proteins modify her physiology, the female takes control and actively regulates the release of sperm from internal stores in time with ovulation. Gaining insight into the reproductive behavior of Drosophila provides a basic understanding of factors that regulate male and female reproductive success. This model could be translatable to population control of species that impact human health, including mosquitoes, which are vectors for diseases such as malaria, dengue fever, and Zika.