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.

雄性黑腹果蝇（Drosophila melanogaster）在交配过程中产生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），是导致交配后雌性产卵量显著提升、性接受度显著降低的主要诱因。尽管雄性SP表达水平的遗传变异与雌性的交配后不应期时长存在相关性，但目前仍未知雄性SP表达是否会影响雌性产卵，亦或是SP所产生的任何效应均通过雌性生殖道内的SP留存来介导。本研究测定了交配后雌性生殖道内留存的SP含量，以及与处女雄蝇交配后的雌性产卵量。研究结果显示，雄性SP表达水平与雌性产卵量之间不存在相关性，与交配后雌性生殖道内的SP含量亦无关联。此外，雌性体内留存的SP量并未对产卵量产生显著影响。上述研究结果表明，其他额外因子（如其他附腺蛋白的变异），对于雌性体内SP的留存及其对产卵量的量化效应具有重要调控作用。同时本研究也证实，雌性针对SP的产卵反应与交配后不应期反应至少存在部分解耦。