Dietary tocopherol and sexual reproduction in the rotifers Brachionus calyciflorus and Asplanchna sieboldi

The Journal of Experimental Zoology
J J Gilbert, J R Litton

Abstract

Brachionus calyciflorus contained no detectable tocopherol (vitamin E) when cultured for long periods on the yeast Rhodotorula glutinis. Using a spectrofluorometric assay and the Asplanchna body-wall-outgrowth response bioassay the limits of detection were 6.4 ng and 3.78 pg alpha-tocopherol per g dry weight Brachionus, respectively. These tocopherol-free Brachionus reproduced normally both parthenogenetically and sexually, producing active and potent males and fertilized resting eggs which developed into viable young rotifers. The apparent lack of a tocopherol requirement for male fertility in B. calyciflorus probably also applies to Asplanchna sieboldi and A. brightwell -- rotifers whose male-producing (mictic) females are induced by dietary tocopherol and whose males therefore are never tocopherol-deficient. The adaptive significance of the tocopherol requirement for the initiation of sexual reproduction in Asplanchna sieboldi--formerly hypothesized to be the result of a tocopherol requirement for male fertility--is now thought to be related to the role of tocopherol in controlling female polymorphism in this species.

References

Oct 15, 1969·Analytical Biochemistry·C K ChowA S Csallany
Jan 1, 1971·The Journal of Nutrition·J J Gilbert, C W Birky
Mar 11, 1966·Science·J J Gilbert
Sep 1, 1959·Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics·D E DUGGAN

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Citations

Oct 1, 1977·Lipids·M E Kabay, J J Gilbert
Jun 22, 2019·Scientific Reports·Evelien RozemaEsther Lubzens

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