The primary site of
try-5 expression was in the male somatic gonad, in particular within tissues involved in storing sperm and tissues through which sperm pass during transfer to a hermaphrodite. Starting at the L4 larval stage, when sperm production initiates, we observed Ptry-5::GFP::H2B expression in several regions of the male gonad: the seminal vesicle (up to seven of the twenty-three total cells in this tissue), the valve region (four cells), and the twelve cuboidal cells of the vas deferens. This overall pattern persisted into adulthood until at least 72 hr post L4; highest expression levels were present consistently in the valve region. We observed no expression in the hermaphrodite gonad, so gonadal expression of
try-5 is sexually dimorphic. However, we also observed low levels of expression in a few cells within the head and tail of both males and hermaphrodites.