Age-dependent decline in sperm quality and function in a naturally short-lived vertebrate
Abstract Maximizing the life-long reproductive output would lead to the prediction that short-lived and fast aging species would undergo no – if any – reproductive senescence. Turquoise killifish (Nothobranchius furzeri) are naturally short-lived teleosts, and undergo extensive somatic aging, charac...
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| Language: | English |
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BMC
2025-01-01
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| Series: | BMC Ecology and Evolution |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12862-024-02343-x |
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| author | Silvia Cattelan Dario Riccardo Valenzano |
| author_facet | Silvia Cattelan Dario Riccardo Valenzano |
| author_sort | Silvia Cattelan |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Maximizing the life-long reproductive output would lead to the prediction that short-lived and fast aging species would undergo no – if any – reproductive senescence. Turquoise killifish (Nothobranchius furzeri) are naturally short-lived teleosts, and undergo extensive somatic aging, characterized by molecular, cellular, and organ dysfunction following the onset of sexual maturation. Here, we tested whether naturally short-lived and fast aging male turquoise killifish maximize reproduction and display minimal – if any, reproductive senescence. We analysed age-related changes in sperm traits, the proportion of fertilized eggs, as well as embryo survival. Contrary to the expectation of no reproductive aging, we found that turquoise killifish males undergo extensive reproductive aging, consisting in the age-dependent decline in sperm quality, decreased proportion of fertilized eggs and lower embryo survival. Our results indicate that male turquoise killifish do not trade-off age-dependent soma decline with life-long sustained reproductive fitness. Instead, somatic and reproductive aging appear to occur simultaneously. Our findings question generalized soma vs. reproductive senescence trade-off models and highlight the importance of integrating species-specific ecological and demographic constraints to explain observed life history traits. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-7695b83a3e7547bca666f7ad99cde4d8 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2730-7182 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Ecology and Evolution |
| spelling | doaj-art-7695b83a3e7547bca666f7ad99cde4d82025-01-12T12:05:02ZengBMCBMC Ecology and Evolution2730-71822025-01-012511910.1186/s12862-024-02343-xAge-dependent decline in sperm quality and function in a naturally short-lived vertebrateSilvia Cattelan0Dario Riccardo Valenzano1Leibniz Institute on AgingLeibniz Institute on AgingAbstract Maximizing the life-long reproductive output would lead to the prediction that short-lived and fast aging species would undergo no – if any – reproductive senescence. Turquoise killifish (Nothobranchius furzeri) are naturally short-lived teleosts, and undergo extensive somatic aging, characterized by molecular, cellular, and organ dysfunction following the onset of sexual maturation. Here, we tested whether naturally short-lived and fast aging male turquoise killifish maximize reproduction and display minimal – if any, reproductive senescence. We analysed age-related changes in sperm traits, the proportion of fertilized eggs, as well as embryo survival. Contrary to the expectation of no reproductive aging, we found that turquoise killifish males undergo extensive reproductive aging, consisting in the age-dependent decline in sperm quality, decreased proportion of fertilized eggs and lower embryo survival. Our results indicate that male turquoise killifish do not trade-off age-dependent soma decline with life-long sustained reproductive fitness. Instead, somatic and reproductive aging appear to occur simultaneously. Our findings question generalized soma vs. reproductive senescence trade-off models and highlight the importance of integrating species-specific ecological and demographic constraints to explain observed life history traits.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12862-024-02343-xReproductive agingMale fertilityReproductive successLife-historyTrade-offNothobranchius furzeri |
| spellingShingle | Silvia Cattelan Dario Riccardo Valenzano Age-dependent decline in sperm quality and function in a naturally short-lived vertebrate BMC Ecology and Evolution Reproductive aging Male fertility Reproductive success Life-history Trade-off Nothobranchius furzeri |
| title | Age-dependent decline in sperm quality and function in a naturally short-lived vertebrate |
| title_full | Age-dependent decline in sperm quality and function in a naturally short-lived vertebrate |
| title_fullStr | Age-dependent decline in sperm quality and function in a naturally short-lived vertebrate |
| title_full_unstemmed | Age-dependent decline in sperm quality and function in a naturally short-lived vertebrate |
| title_short | Age-dependent decline in sperm quality and function in a naturally short-lived vertebrate |
| title_sort | age dependent decline in sperm quality and function in a naturally short lived vertebrate |
| topic | Reproductive aging Male fertility Reproductive success Life-history Trade-off Nothobranchius furzeri |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12862-024-02343-x |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT silviacattelan agedependentdeclineinspermqualityandfunctioninanaturallyshortlivedvertebrate AT darioriccardovalenzano agedependentdeclineinspermqualityandfunctioninanaturallyshortlivedvertebrate |