3D-11 Basic studies on sperm dynamics in the female reproductive organs of Drosophila melanogaster

Drosophila genetic resources are currently maintained by subculture of living adults. The system has a great advantage for the users to receive live research materials and use them immedi-ately, but with the increase in the number of resources new maintenance techniques as freezing embryos and sperm are the race to be developed. Towards the aim we studied some basic dynamics of sperm labeled with fusion GFP after transferred into the uteri by copulation. In ten minutes of copulation sperm start to move into sperm storage organs, seminal receptacle and spermatheca from uteri. Sperm within the seminal receptacle are not scattered randomly. Most of the sperm are kept and circulated in the distal half and only a portion is found in the proximal region, which seems to be used for fertilization. Comparison of sperm storage between the two organs will be discussed. Our trial of sperm structure observed with low vacuum SEM and the process of sperm entrance into eggs will be briefly described.