Preliminary studies: the effect of temperature on the accessory gland in Drosophila melanogaster

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Department of Genetics-School of Basic Science, Tonekabon Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tonekabon, Iran

2 Drosophila Stock Centre, Department of Studies in Zoology, University of Mysore, Manasagangotri, Mysore 570006, Karnataka State, India

Abstract

The accessory gland has a simple structure composed of a single layer of a cells
surrounding a lumen that is in turn surrounded by a muscle sheath. It synthesizes a proteins,
carbohydrates and lipids which are transferred at the time of mating between male to the
mating female. In this study we have determined the number of cells, cell size and gland size
in male Drosophila melanogaster, unmated male flies of 2-3 day old were used the exposed
to three temperatures, cold(15°c), middle (22°c) and high(29°c) temperature. The results
showed, cell size in cold temperature was smaller than middle and high temperature and
between three temperatures results of ANOVA and correlation coefficient were significant, p
value< 0.01 (cold>middle > high). Results of cell number in cold, middle and high
temperature by ANOVA variation and correlation coefficient was significant, the mean value
of cell number in high temperature more than low and middle temperature respectively
(High> cold> middle). Regarding, gland size, the mean value also, in high temperature
condition bigger than middle temperature. The results of ANOVA variation and correlation
coefficient were significant. [Our main aim is to show the effect of temperature on the
reproductive system, especially on the male accessory gland in Drosophila including,
structure of gland of cell size and cell number, that changed when flies were exposed to
different temperature].

Keywords