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Complexity of seminal fluid: a review

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Abstract

The seminal fluid is a complex medium containing a great variety of molecules, mainly produced by sex accessory glands, and also cells other than spermatozoa (e.g. leucocytes). In this paper, I review current knowledge on composition of seminal fluid in both vertebrates (mainly mammals) and invertebrates (mainly insects) with internal fertilisation, in the light of possible benefits of seminal fluid components to males (e.g. sperm capacitation, sperm competition and fertilisation), possible costs to males (e.g. autoimmunity, antigenic effects), potential benefits to females being inseminated (e.g. food, immunostimulation and antibiotic effects) and potential costs to females (e.g. transmission of venereal diseases). The diversity of microorganismal, cellular and molecular components of seminal fluids can be interpreted in the light of emergence of co-adapted complexes, host–parasite coevolution, male–female arms races, sperm competition, pleiotropy and redundancy of function.

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Acknowledgements

I am grateful to P. Heeb and an anonymous reviewer for their constructive suggestions. The preparation of this review benefitted from a grant of the Faculty of Science, Technology and Engineering of La Trobe University.

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    Aldo Poiani

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Communicated by A. Cockburn

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Poiani, A. Complexity of seminal fluid: a review. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 60, 289–310 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00265-006-0178-0

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