Abstract
Crosses between the semispecies of the Drosophila paulistorum complex produce fertile female but sterile male hybrids. An hypothesis is put forward that the hybrid sterility is in this case a result of discordance between a cytoplasmic symbiont and the genotype of the host. An ultrastructural analysis has been made of the testes of sterile male hybrids between the Andean and the Amazonian, and also other semispecies. Spermatid bundles undergo degenerative changes resulting in the loss of the axial filament complex and of associated mitochondrial derivatives. Numerous single or multiply clustered elements closely resembling Mycoplasma are observed in association with the degenerating spermatid bundles. Similar inclusions are observed also intruding into the wall of the distal parts of the testes and/or vasa deferentia. Some Mycoplasma-like bodies are observed also within the developing spermatids. These organs may be crowded with degenerating bundles and clusters of the Mycoplasma-like bodies. Each body is enclosed in a membrane, and may show a central reticular network and peripheral ribosome-like granules. The testes of the fertile males of the parental stocks reveal the presence of similar Mycoplasma-like inclusions, but not in such profusion.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Aleu, F., Thomas, L.: Studies of PPLO infection. III. Electron microscopic study of brain lesions caused by Mycoplasma neurolyticum toxin. J. exp. Med. 124 1083–1088 (1966).
Anderson, P. R., Barile, M.: Ultrastructure of Mycoplasma hominis. J. Bact. 90, 180–192 (1965).
Bairati, A.: Filamentous structures in spermatic fluid of Drosophila melanogaster Meig. J. Microscopie 5, 265–267 (1966).
Bowyer, J. W., Atherton, J. G., Teakle, D. S., Ahern, G. A.: Mycoplasma-like bodies in plants affected by legume little leaf, tomato big bud and lucerne witches' broom diseases. Aust. J. Biol. Sci. 22, 271–274 (1969).
Burnett, R. G., King, R. C.: Observations on a microsporidian Parasite of Drosophila willistoni sturtevant. J. Insect. Path. 4, 104–112 (1962).
Davis, R. E., Whitcomb, R. F., Steere, R. L.: Remission of aster yellows disease by antibiotics. Science 161, 793–795 (1968).
Dobzhansky, Th., Ehrman, L., Pavlovsky, O., Spassky, B.: The superspecies Drosophila paulistorum. Proc. nat. Acad. Sci. (Wash.) 51, 3–9 (1964).
—, Pavlovsky, O.: Spontaneous origin of an incipient species in the Drosophila paulistroum complex. Proc. nat. Acad. Sci. (Wash.) 55, 727–733 (1966).
Dobzhansky, Th., Pavlovsky, O.: Experiments on the incipient species of the Drosophila paulistorum complex. Genetics 55, 141–156 (1967).
—, Ehrman, L.: Transitional populations of Drosophila paulistorum. Evolution (Lawrence, Kans.) 23, 482–492 (1969).
—, Spassky, B.: Drosophila paulistorum a cluster of species in satu nascendi. Proc. nat. Acad. Sci. (Wash.) 45, 419–428 (1959).
Doi, Y., Teranaka, M., Yora, K., Asuyama, H.: Mycoplasma or PLT grouplike microorganisms found in the phloem elements of plants infected with mulberry dwarf, potato witches' broom. Ann. Phytopath. Soc. Japan 33, 259–266 (1967).
Ehrman, L.: A new type of hybrid sterility in Drosophila paulistorum. Nature (Lond.) 193, 1208–1209 (1962a).
—: Hybrid sterility as an isolating mechanism in the genus Drosophila. Quart. Rev. Biol. 37, 279–302 (1962b).
—: Antibiotics and infectious hybrid sterility in Drosophila paulistorum. Molec. Gen. Genetics 103, 218–222 (1968).
—, Williamson, D. L.: Transmission by injection of hybrid sterility to nonhybrid males in Drosophila paulistorum. Proc. nat. Aead. Sci. (Wash.) 54, 481–483 (1967).
—: On the etiology of the sterility of hybrids between certain strains of Drosophila paulistorum. Genetics 62, 193–199 (1969).
Gibbons, J. R., Grimstone, A. V.: On flagellar structure in certain flagellates. J. biophys. biochem. Cytol. 7, 697–710 (1960).
Granados, R. R.: Electron microscopy of plants and insect vectors infected with the corn stunt disease agent. Contr. Boyce Thompson Inst. 24, 173–187 (1969).
—, Maramorosch, K., Shikata, E.: Mycoplasma: Suspected etiologic agent of corn stunt. Proc. nat. Acad. Sci. (Wash.) 60, 841–844 (1968).
Hampton, R. O., Stevens, J. O., Allen, T. C.: Mechanically transmissible Mycoplasma from naturally infected peas. Plant Disease Reporter 53, 499–503 (1969).
Hirumi, H., Maramorosch, K.: Mycoplasma-like bodies in the salivary glands of insect vectors carrying the aster yellows agent. J. Virol. 3, 82–84 (1969).
Ishiie, T., Doi, Y., Yora, K., Asuyama, H.: Suppressive effects of antibiotics of tetracycline group on symptom development of mulberry dwarf disease. Ann. phytopath. Soc. Japan 33, 267–275 (1967).
Kernaghan, R. P., Ehrman, L.: Filamentous inclusions in the paragonia of Drosophila paulistorum. J. Invert. Path. 10, 432–434 (1968).
Koch, E. A., King, R. C.: The origin and early differentiation of the egg chamber of Drosophila melanogaster. J. Morph. 119, 283–304 (1966).
—, Smith, P. A., King, R. C.: The division and differentiation of Drosophila cystocytes. J. Morph. 121, 55–70 (1967).
Kramer, J. P.: Nosema kingi a microsporidian from Drosophila willistoni Sturtevant and its infectivity for other muscoids. J. Insect Path. 6, 491–499 (1964).
Luft, J. H.: Improvements in epoxy resin embedding methods. J. biophys. biochem. Cytol. 9, 409 (1961).
Maramorosch, K., Shikata, E., Granados, R. R.: Structures resembling mycoplasma in diseased plants and in insect vectors. Trans. N. Y. Acad. Sci. 30, 841–855 (1968).
Millonig, G.: Advantages of a phosphate buffer for osmium tetroxide solutions in fixation. J. appl. Phys. 32, 1637 (1961).
Reynolds, E. W.: The use of lead citrate at high pH as an electron-opaque stain in electron microscopy. J. Cell Biol. 17, 208–212 (1963).
Sabatini, D. D., Bensch, K., Barrnett, R. J.: Cytochemistry and electron microscopy. The preservation of cellular ultrastructure and enzymatic activity by aldehyde fixation. J. Cell Biol. 17, 19–58 (1963).
Shikata, E., Maramorosch, K., Ling, K. C., Matsumoto, R.: On the Mycoplasma-like structures encountered in the phloem cells of American aster yellows, corn stunt, Phillippine rice dwarf and Taiwan sugar cane white leaf diseased plants. Ann. phytopath. Soc. Japan 34, 208–209 (1969).
Tandler, D., Williamson, D. L., Ehrman, L.: Unusual filamentous structures in the paragonia of male Drosophila. J. Cell Biol. 38, 329–336 (1968).
Whitcomb, R. F., Davis, R. E.: Mycoplasma and phytarboviruses as plant pathogens persistently transmitted by insects. Ann. Rev. Entomol. 15, 405–464 (1970).
Williamson, D. L., Ehrman, L.: Induction of hybrid sterility in nonhybrid males of Drosophila paulistorum. Genetics 55, 131–140 (1967).
—: Infectious hybrid sterility and the “New Llanos” strain of Drosophila paulistorum. Nature (Lond.) 219, 1266–1267 (1968).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Dedicated to Professor Theodosius Dobzhansky on the occasion of his seventieth birthday, and in gratitude for our introduction to Drosophila paulistorum.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Kernaghan, R.P., Ehrman, L. An electron microscopic study of the etiology of hybrid sterility in Drosophila paulistorum . Chromosoma 29, 291–304 (1970). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00325944
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00325944