Chemoattractants for sperm in Bombix mori

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K15538
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 39050:Insect science-related
• Research Institution: Nara University of Education (2022); National Institute for Basic Biology (2020)
• Principal Investigator: KONAGAYA Tatsuro 奈良教育大学, 理科教育講座, 准教授 (80837790)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 異型精子

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Sperm polymorphism which a male produce two or more types of spermatozoa is known in various phylum of animals. Whereas eusperm is normal sperm with fertile ability, parasperm is non-fertile sperm. In most species of Lepidoptera, males produce eupyrene sperm and apyrene sperm. The former is one of the eusperm and the other is one of the parasperm. Apyrene spermatozoa generally are shorter than eupyrene spermatozoa. The proportions of apyrene spermatozoa in the total number of spermatozoa reach 90% in most butterflies. However, the adaptive significance and evolutionary scenario of apyrene sperm are unclear because few studies clarify the physiology of apyrene sperm. The present study aimed to detect chemoattractants for the sperm in Bombyx mori.

Free Research Field

昆虫生態学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

異型精子の走化性に関する研究は極めて少なく、その走化性因子はどの分類群でも特定されていない。走化性因子の特定は異型精子の未知の側面に焦点をあてる研究といえ、その生理学的研究を飛躍させるのみならず、異型精子の適応的意義や進化学的プロセスの推察にも寄与する。さらに、カイコガでは無核精子が有核精子の受精に重要な役割を果たしていると考えられているため、無核精子の生理機能に関する研究は鱗翅目昆虫の人工的な繁殖技術の向上につながり、絶滅危惧種の生息域外保全にも貢献し得る。