Social status and ejaculate composition in the house mouse

Bayram, Helen, Franco, Catarina, Brownridge, Philip, Claydon, Amy, Koch, Natalie, Hurst, Jane ORCID: 0000-0002-3728-9624, Beynon, Robert ORCID: 0000-0003-0857-495X and Stockley, Paula (2020) Social status and ejaculate composition in the house mouse Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 375 (1813). 20200083-. ISSN 0962-8436, 1471-2970

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Abstract

Sperm competition theory predicts that males should tailor ejaculates according to their social status. Here, we test this in a model vertebrate, the house mouse (Mus musculus domesticus), combining experimental data with a quantitative proteomics analysis of seminal fluid composition. Our analyses reveal that both sperm production and the composition of proteins found in seminal vesicle secretions differ according to social status. Dominant males invested more in ejaculate production overall. Their epididymides contained more sperm than those of subordinate or control males, despite similar testes size between the groups. Dominant males also had larger seminal vesicle glands than subordinate or control males, despite similar body size. However, the seminal vesicle secretions of subordinate males had a significantly higher protein concentration than those of dominant males. Moreover, detailed proteomic analysis revealed subtle but consistent differences in the composition of secreted seminal vesicle proteins according to social status, involving multiple proteins of potential functional significance in sperm competition. These findings have significant implications for understanding the dynamics and outcome of sperm competition, and highlight the importance of social status as a factor influencing both sperm and seminal fluid investment strategies.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	social dominance, sperm competition, ejaculates, seminal fluid, mating plugs, proteomics
Depositing User:	Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited:	01 Sep 2020 07:52
Last Modified:	16 Jun 2026 13:25
DOI:	10.1098/rstb.2020.0083
Open Access URL:	https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/pdf/10.1098...
Related Websites:	Author Publisher
URI:	https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3099342
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