Data from: The consequences of genetic variation in male sex peptide gene-expression levels for SP retention and egg laying in female Drosophila

The accessory gland proteins (Acps) that male Drosophila melanogaster produce and transfer to females during copulation are key to male and female fitness. One Acp, the sex peptide (SP), is largely responsible for a dramatic increase in female egg laying and decrease in female receptivity after copulation. While genetic variation in male SP expression levels correlate with refractory period duration in females, it is unknown whether male SP expression influences female egg laying or if any effect of SP is mediated by SP retention in the female reproductive tract. Here we measured the amount of SP retained in the female reproductive tract after mating and female egg laying after copulating with virgin males. We found no correlation between male SP expression levels and egg laying, or the amount of SP in the female reproductive tract after mating. Additionally, the amount of SP retained in the female did not influence egg laying. These finding suggests that additional factors, such as variation in other Acps, are important for the retention of SP in females and its quantitative effects on egg laying. It also shows that egg laying and refractory period response to SP is at least partially uncoupled.黑腹果蝇（Drosophila melanogaster）雄性在交配过程中合成并转移至雌性体内的附腺蛋白（accessory gland proteins, Acps），是调控雌雄个体适合度的关键因子。其中一种附腺蛋白——性肽（sex peptide, SP），是介导交配后雌性产卵量显著升高、交配接受度大幅下降的主要因子。已有研究证实，雄性性肽表达水平的遗传变异与雌性的交配不应期时长呈显著相关，但目前仍有两个科学问题尚未明确：其一，雄性性肽表达是否会对雌性产卵量产生影响；其二，性肽所介导的生物学效应是否通过雌性生殖道内的性肽滞留过程实现。本研究分别检测了交配后雌性生殖道内滞留的性肽含量，以及与处女雄蝇交配后的雌性产卵量。实验结果显示，雄性性肽表达水平与雌性产卵量、交配后雌性生殖道内的性肽残留量均无显著相关性；此外，雌性体内滞留的性肽总量也未对其产卵量产生显著影响。本研究结果表明，除性肽外的其他因素（如其他附腺蛋白的遗传变异），对于性肽在雌性体内的滞留过程及其对产卵量的量化调控效应具有重要作用；同时也证实，雌性针对性肽的产卵反应与交配不应期反应至少存在部分解耦现象。