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Cost of mating in Drosophila melanogaster females is mediated by male accessory gland products

Nature volume 373, pages 241–244 (1995)Cite this article

Abstract

FEMALE Drosophila melanogaster with environmentally1–3 or genetically4 elevated rates of mating die younger than controls. This cost of mating is not attributable to receipt of sperm5. We demonstrate here that seminal fluid products from the main cells of the male accessory gland are responsible for the cost of mating in females, and that increasing exposure to these products increases female death rate. Main-cell products are also involved in elevating the rate of female egg-laying, in reducing female receptivity to further matings and in removing or destroying sperm of previous mates6–12. The cost of mating to females may therefore represent a side-effect of evolutionary conflict between males13.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. ICAPB, Ashworth Building, University of Edinburgh, West Mains Rd, Edinburgh, EH9 3JT, UK

    Lindsay F. Liddle

  2. Department of Genetics and Biometry, University College London, Wolfson House, 4 Stephenson Way, London, NW1 2HE, UK

    Tracey Chapman & Linda Partridge

  3. Section of Genetics and Development, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, 14853-2703, USA

    John M. Kalb & Mariana F. Wolfner

Authors
  1. Tracey Chapman
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  4. Mariana F. Wolfner
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  5. Linda Partridge
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Chapman, T., Liddle, L., Kalb, J. et al. Cost of mating in Drosophila melanogaster females is mediated by male accessory gland products. Nature 373, 241–244 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1038/373241a0

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