Das Sekret der Paragonien als Stimulus der Fekundität bei Weibchen von Drosophila melanogaster

Abstract

As in other insects, the fecundity of females of Drosophila melanogaster increases after mating. The present findings corroborate the assumption that it is the ejaculate which introduces the stimulating agent into the female. However, in our experimental series with interrupted matings or after mating with exhausted males we found no correlation between the reserve on sperms and fecundity. It was attempted to stimulate egg laying with implanted vesicula seminis in one group of virgin females, and paragonia in the other. The result shows that only the paragonia-bearing hosts exhibit the high fecundity, which is characteristic of fertilized females. Moreover, further functions of the paragonial fluid are discussed.