Unprecedented dynamics of seminal fluid replenishment after mating

Seminal fluid proteins (SFPs) play vital roles for optimizing reproductive success in diverse animals. Underlining their significance, SFP production and transfer are highly plastic, e.g., depending on the presence of rivals or mating status of partners. However, surprisingly little is known about replenishing SFPs after mating. It is especially relevant in multiple mating species, as they would continuously produce and use SPFs throughout their reproductive life. Here we examined the expression pattern of SFP genes after mating in the great pond snail, Lymnaea stagnalis. Our results show that only two of the six SFP genes investigated here were up-regulated after mating, indicating that L. stagnalis replenishes seminal fluid in a protein-specific manner. In addition, we suggest that SFP replenishment is plastic depending on the mating history of female-acting snails. Our results shed light on unexplored aspects of SFP replenishment, thereby expanding the understanding of reproductive strategies in animals.