A biological switching valve evolved in the female of a sex-role reversed cave insect to receive multiple seminal packages
- Hokkaido University, Japan
- Keio University, Japan
- Natural History Museum of Geneva, Switzerland
- Federal University of Lavras, Brazil
- University of Cologne, Köln
- University of Hull, United Kingdom
Figures
Figure 1
Morphology of the spermatheca and spermathecal plate of Neotrogla.
(A) Whole abdomen of a virgin female showing the location of the mating system. T8 and 9 indicate tergites 8 and 9. (B) Light microscopy photograph of the spermathecal plate with a single seminal capsule. (C) CLSM image of the spermathecal plate. (D) 3D segmentation of the spermathecal plate with no seminal capsule. Dotted line indicates the section plane shown in F and G. (E) 3D segmentation of the spermathecal plate with two seminal capsules and showing seminal flow. (F) Attachment points for the seminal capsules in the virgin female. (G) The base of two seminal capsules in different stages of connection to the spermathecal plate (corresponding to the two seminal capsules in Figure 1E).
Figure 2
Morphology of the closure element (CE) and its associated structures.
(A) Muscle attachment to CE. (B) 3D segmentation of Figure 2A. (C) Detail of CE. (D) CLSM image of CE and neighboring structures. (E) Schematic illustration of the function of the switching valve system in closed (left) and opened (right) conditions.
Videos
Video 1
3D segmentation of the spermatheca and two seminal capsules attached to the spermathecal plate (see Figure 1E).
https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.39563.005Tables
Table 1
Valve terminology used in the text
https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.39563.004| Actuator | Device used to operate a valve using electric, pneumatic or hydraulic means |
|---|---|
| Body | The principal pressure-containing part of a valve in which the closure element and seats are located |
| Closure element (CE) | The moving part of a valve, positioned in the flow stream, that controls the flow through the valve, for example wedge, plug, clapper, ball |
| Controller | A device that directs the flow of a valve |
| End connection | The type of connection supplied on the ends of a valve that allows it to be connected to piping — may be a welded end, flanged end, threaded or socket weld |
| Pennation angle | The oblique attachment of single muscle fascicles to the CE. It was measured as the angle between the outermost fascicles in a given muscle bundle |
Table 2
Measurements of each component of the spermathecal plate.
https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.39563.007| Object | Pennation angle | Attachment area of muscle [cm2] | Muscle strength [mN] | Length [mm] | Volume [µm3] | Mass [µg] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Muscle m1 | 34.16 | 0.0000199 | 0.6562 | 0.1 | ||
| Muscle m2 | 30.18 | 0.0000191 | 0.6319 | 0.08 | ||
| Muscle m3 | 15.59 | 0.0000023 | 0.0758 | 0.09 | ||
| Muscle m4 | 44.55 | 0.0000133 | 0.4374 | 0.09 | ||
| Muscle m5 | 12.26 | 0.0000033 | 0.1096 | 0.09 | ||
| Muscle m6 | 32.75 | 0.0000073 | 0.2394 | 0.11 | ||
| Sum of muscle strength | 2.1503 | |||||
| Closure element | 0.03 | |||||
| Spermathecal pouch | 1847443779 | 0.0021246 | ||||
| Body sclerite 1 | 199709300 | 0.0002297 | ||||
| Body sclerite 2 | 101434410 | 0.0001166 |
Additional files
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Transparent reporting form
- https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.39563.008
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A biological switching valve evolved in the female of a sex-role reversed cave insect to receive multiple seminal packages
eLife 7:e39563.
https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.39563
