Larval-pupal transformation of the prothoracic glands of Mamestra brassicae

The sensitivity of the prothoracic glands to juvenile hormone and prothoracicotropic hormone (PTTH) of penultimate (5th)-instar larvae of Mamestra brassicae was compared with that of the same-instar larvae destined for pupal ecdysis by allatectomy. The activity of the prothoracic glands was assessed using either moulting of isolated abdomens or ecdysone radioimmunoassay. Juvenile hormone application immediately after neck-ligation (which removes brain-corpora cardiaca-corpora allata complex) prevented prothoracic gland function in larvae at all stages. When larvae were allatectomized 12 hr after ecdysis, followed by neck-ligation at different times and given juvenile hormone immediately, the hormone inhibited the prothoracic glands of young larvae, but activated the prothoracic glands from day-5 or older larvae. Juvenile hormone I, juvenile hormone II and methoprene activated the prothoracic glands, but juvenile hormone III was relatively ineffective. Brain implantation instead of juvenile hormone application led to activation of the prothoracic glands at all stages.Allatectomy thus caused changes leading to metamorphosis including a transformation of the prothoracic glands from ‘larval’ to ‘pupal’ type. After this change these prothoracic glands were able to respond not only to PTTH but also to juvenile hormone just as in last-instar larvae.     

Juvenile hormone and juvenile hormone esterase in adult females of the mosquito Aedes aegypti

Juvenile hormone III levels and juvenile hormone esterase activity were measured in whole body extracts and haemolymph, respectively, of female Aedes aegypti. The amount of juvenile hormone, determined by coupled gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, rose over the first 2 days after emergence from 0.7 to 7.5 ng/g, and then slowly fell over the next 5 days in females not given a blood meal. In females fed blood, juvenile hormone levels fell during the first 3 h to 2.3 ng/g. The rate of decline then slowed so that levels had reached their lowest point (0.4 ng/g) by 24 h after the blood meal. By 48 h, levels started to rise again until 96 h when they were equivalent to pre-blood meal levels.Juvenile hormone esterase activity in the haemolymph of females was measured with a partition assay. The esterase activity showed small fluctuations in unfed animals. In females fed blood on the 3rd day after emergence, the juvenile hormone esterase activity rose slowly to a peak at 36 h. At 42 h it began to decline, and by 66 h it had returned to pre-blood meal levels. Thus, juvenile hormone levels and juvenile hormone esterase activity were inversely correlated after a blood meal. Both the ovary and fat body produce juvenile hormone esterase in organ culture.Juvenile hormone III acid was the only metabolite produced after incubation of haemolymph with racemic-labelled juvenile hormone III. Juvenile hormone acid, diol, and acid diol were the main metabolic products seen in whole animal extracts after topical application of labelled hormone. About 25% of topically applied, labelled juvenile hormone appears in the haemolymph as the acid diol, and 50% of this is excreted in the urine immediately after the blood meal. Topical application of BEPAT (S-benzyl-O-ethyl phosphoramidothiolate), a specific inhibitor of juvenile hormone esterase, resulted in the absence of juvenile hormone acid and a reduction in the acid diol. Both BEPAT and methoprene, a juvenile hormone analogue, caused a reduction in egg hatch when applied topically 30 h after a blood meal, demonstrating that the decline in juvenile hormone levels after a blood meal is necessary for normal egg development and suggesting that the decline is mediated, at least in part, by juvenile hormone esterase.     

Haemolymph juvenile hormone esterase activity in synchronous last instar larvae of the cabbage looper, Trichoplusia ni

Weight and time of moult during the last instar of the cabbage looper (Trichoplusia ni) were examined and used to select last instar larvae that had similar rates of development. Haemolymph protein content and titres of haemolymph esterases hydrolyzing juvenile hormone I, juvenile hormone III, and α-naphthyl acetate were monitored during the last instar using these closely timed larvae. Juvenile hormone I and juvenile hormone III esterase profiles were very similar and differed markedly from the α-naphthyl acetate esterase and protein content profiles. Two major peaks of juvenile hormone esterase activity were observed, one before ecdysone release and the other just prior to pupal ecdysis. Juvenile hormone I was hydrolyzed 15 times faster than juvenile hormone III when assayed at 5 × 10^?6 M.     

保幼激素类似物对烟蚜茧蜂生长发育、寄生率和蜕皮相关酶活性的影响

【目的】烟蚜Myzus persicae是烟草上重要的害虫之一,烟蚜茧蜂Aphidius gifuensis是烟蚜的一种优势寄生蜂。本研究旨在筛选出可延迟烟蚜茧蜂羽化时间的最佳保幼激素,解决规模化繁殖过程中出现的烟蚜茧蜂羽化不一致、不整齐,生产上急需烟蚜茧蜂防控烟蚜时所需烟蚜茧蜂数量不足而影响防蚜效果等严重问题。【方法】利用液浸法测定了不同浓度(5 000, 1 000, 200, 40和8 ng/μL)的5种保幼激素类似物包括稀虫乙酯(ZR-512)、稀虫炔酯(ZR-777)、稀虫酯(ZR-515)、苯氧威［(对苯氧乙基)氨基甲酸乙酯)］和保幼激素Ⅲ(2,6-壬二烯酸)处理后对烟蚜茧蜂羽化率、羽化时间、成蜂寿命、雌蜂比例和寄生率的影响;通过生物化学方法测定1 000 ng/μL这5种保幼激素类似物处理后烟蚜茧蜂蛹内与蜕皮相关酶含量和活性,筛选能延迟烟蚜茧蜂羽化时间的最佳保幼激素类似物。【结果】测试的不同浓 度的5种保幼激素类似物中200 ng/μL ZR-777和1 000 ng/μL ZR-512处理后能显著延迟烟蚜茧蜂羽化时间,分别比对照(10%丙酮处理)延迟了44.00和56.00 h;不同浓度的ZR-515和苯氧威处理后烟蚜茧蜂羽化率较对照组显著降低。与对照组相比,测试的不同浓度的5种保幼激素类似物对成蜂寿命均没有显著影响;1 000和40 ng/μL ZR-777处理显著降低了雌蜂比例。200 ng/μL ZR-777, 1 000 ng/μL ZR-512和5 000 ng/μL ZR-512处理对烟蚜茧蜂的寄生率无显著影响。5种保幼激素类似物以1 000 ng/μL浓度处理时,ZR-512处理组中烟蚜茧蜂蛹内酚氧化酶含量和活性以及几丁质酶活性均最低。【结论】生产上可用1 000 ng/μL ZR-512和200 ng/μL ZR-777处理烟蚜茧蜂,以达到调控烟蚜茧蜂羽化时间,取得足量、一致的烟蚜茧蜂。结果为烟蚜茧蜂规模化繁殖提供了理论依据。     

Effects of Juvenile Hormone and Precocene on the Reproduction of Brachionus calyciflorus

We studied the effects of juvenile hormone and precocene on reproduction of the rotifer Brachionus calyciflorus. Amictic females of B. calyciflorus that were 2‐4 hours old were exposed to different concentrations of juvenile hormone (0.004, 0.02, 0.1, 0.5, 2.5, 12.5 mg/L) and/or precocene (0.05, 0.25, 0.75, 3.75, 7.5 mg/L) for 24 h. They were then transferred to a new medium without hormone and checked every 2 h during the next 48 h, and thereafter monitored daily until the individual died. Precocene had no effects on the length of the rotifer juvenile period, hatching time of the first neonate, lifetime reproduction, or the mixis ratio. In contrast, juvenile hormone at 0.5, 2.5, and 12.5 mg/L significantly prolonged the juvenile period by 6.1, 9.2, and 8.6%, respectively. When 26‐28‐h‐old amictic females were exposed to the same concentration series of juvenile hormone or precocene, precocene at 3.75 mg/L resulted in an increase in lifetime reproduction of 30.39%. However, at 0.75 and 3.75 mg/L precocene, a significantly lower percentage of mictic females was found, whereas juvenile hormone had no effect on the lifetime reproduction or mixis ratio. The population growth test showed that juvenile hormone had significant effects on the population growth rate and mixis ratio, but no effect on resting egg production. In comparison, precocene had no effect on any of these parameters. (© 2012 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Critical roles for juvenile hormone and its esterase+ in the prepupa of Trichoplusia ni

In the caterpillar Trichoplusia ni (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) it has been demonstrated by allatectomy that the appearance of juvenile hormone during the prepupal stage is crucial for the successful larval-pupal ecdysis of most larvae. Application of juvenile hormone or juvenile hormone esterase inhibitors at key times disrupted normal development as well. Thus the subsequent disappearance of juvenile hormone is regulated by degradation by juvenile hormone esterase in addition to a hypothetical reduction in biosynthesis. This reduction in juvenile hormone titer in the prepupa is just as critical for normal development as was its previous appearance. These observations on the critical role of juvenile hormone in the prepupa are in contrast to observations in some other species. For instance, in the case of Manduca sexta (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae), juvenile hormone is considered only supplementary to the action of prothoracicotropic hormone in the postwandering stage and primarily is required for normal pupal development. It thus appears that even within the Lepidoptera the role of juvenile hormone in prepupal development can vary dramatically.     

Effects of diet and mating status upon corpus allatum activity, oocyte growth, and salivary gland size in the ring-legged earwig

The effect of diet on mating behavior and the subsequent effects of diet and mating status on the biosynthesis of juvenile hormone III, basal follicle length, salivary gland size and total body weight were assessed in the ring-legged earwig, Euborellia annulipes (Lucas) (Family Carcinophoridae; subfamily Carcinophorinae) during the first 15 days of adult life (the first gonadotrophic cycle of those fed presumably near-optimal diets of catfood) and again on day 25 (late vitellogenesis of the second gonadotrophic cycle of those fed catfood). Diets of catfood, honey, fructose and total starvation, respectively, imposed on 0-day adult females did not affect sexual receptivity, mating success or duration of mating as assessed on day 7. With the addition of a group of virgin, catfood fed females, we noted that only those females maintained on catfood oviposited within 25 days; enforced virginity virtually abolished oviposition. Total food deprivation of females as well as diets of honey or fructose abolished the cycles in total body weight, basal follicle length, salivary gland size and juvenile hormone production. Thus, starvation decreased the reproductive success of these insects, and carbohydrates only (fructose) or in combination with trace amounts of nutrients and protein (honey) were not sufficient to promote reproduction and associated cycles in this insect. Furthermore, virgins failed to undergo the decreases in salivary gland size that were characteristic of mated females. Among mated, catfood-fed females, the second cycle in juvenile hormone production appeared to be smaller than the first.     

Identification of the juvenile hormone from the cricket, Teleogryllus commodus, and juvenile hormone titre changes

In the cricket, Teleogryllus commodus, eggs, haemolymph of 7th and 8th (last)-larval instars, and haemolymph of adults of both sexes contain only juvenile hormone III. While in the male the hormone titre is independent of previous mating experience, juvenile hormone concentration in haemolymph taken from females 36–38 hr after mating (an event which is followed by oviposition) is at a level 5 times higher than that of virgin females. Based on data gleaned from several research groups the identification of juvenile hormone III as the exclusive juvenile hormone in the Order Orthopteroidea is discussed.     

Effects of juvenile hormone I and the anti-juvenile hormone fluoromevalono-lactone on development and juvenile hormone esterase activity in post-feeding last-stadium larvae of Trichoplusia ni (Hübner)

Treatment of post-feeding (early day 3; wandering phase) last-stadium larvae of the cabbage looper, Trichoplusia ni, with the anti-juvenile hormone, fluoromevalonolactone, prevented the normal ecdysis to the pupa. It caused the formation of larval-pupal intermediates, a dose-dependent delay in the time of tanning, and a decrease in juvenile hormone esterase activity at the time of the prepupal juvenile hormone esterase peak. Fluoromevalonolactone was inactive as juvenile hormone esterase inhibitor in vitro. Conversely, juvenile hormone I accelerated the time of tanning, induced the early appearance of juvenile hormone esterase activity, and prevented adult eclosion. Although most of the larvae that were treated with fluoromevalonolactone immediately after the prepupal burst of juvenile hormone (late on day 3; post-spinning phase) still became larval-pupal intermediates, the time of tanning and juvenile hormone esterase activity were close to normal. Topical treatment of day-3 larvae with radiolabelled juvenile hormone I resulted in the rapid appearance and decline of radiolabelled juvenile hormone I in the haemolymph which was associated with the increased production of juvenile hormone I acid and the induced appearance of juvenile hormone esterase activity. Thus, in post-feeding last-stadium larvae of T. ni, juvenile hormone seems to be necessary for the proper formation of the pupa. Juvenile hormone is also involved in determining the time of pupation, and it appears to induce its own degradation.     

Factors responsible for the initiation of a second oöcyte maturation cycle in the ovoviviparous cockroach Nauphoeta cinerea

The factors responsible for the initiation of a second oöcyte maturation cycle were investigated by measuring oöcyte growth, vitellogenin titre, and corpus allatum activity after injection of juvenile hormone and/or removal of the egg-case from pregnant females and by performing ovary and corpus allatum transplant experiments.Egg-case removal in late pregnancy results in immediate oöcyte growth, whereas in early pregnancy oöcyte growth is resumed only after a lapse of time, even after injection of juvenile hormone. This, however, induces an immediate increase in the haemolymph vitellogenin titre. A single injection of 2 or 10 μg of juvenile hormone II first stimulates some oöcyte growth after this lapse of time and later activates the corpora allata, which in turn leads to completion of oöcyte maturation. A repeat injection of 10 μg stimulates continuous oöcyte growth without activating the corpora allata. In the presence of an egg case, activation of the corpora allata is suppressed, even after injection of 2 μg of juvenile hormone III, and the oöcytes do not grow. Injection of higher doses stimulates oöcyte growth and leads to expulsion of the egg case in up to 95% of the females. This, however, is not a direct consequence of the increase in size of the ovaries. Ovary transplant experiment show that in young pregnant females the second generation of oöcyte is not yet competent for growth and that ovaries which are competent can mature in young pregnant females, treated with juvenile hormone, whose egg case has been removed.The results are summarized in a model demonstrating the various factors involved in regulating corpus allatum activity in oöcyte maturation and pregnancy and after application of juvenile hormone. We prepose that the corpus allatum activating effect of exogenous juvenile hormone is mediated by the growing oöcyte and that this activation can be suppressed by the continuous presence of exogenous juvenile hormone.     

Juvenile hormone esterases in diapause and nondiapause larvae of the European corn borer, Ostrinia nubilalis

Haemolymph levels of juvenile hormone esterase, 1-naphthyl acetate esterase, and juvenile hormone were measured in synchronously staged diapause and nondiapause larvae of the European corn borer, Ostrinia nubilalis. Juvenile hormone esterase levels were monitored using juvenile hormone I as a substrate while juvenile hormone titres were measured with the Galleria bioassay. Haemolymph of nondiapause larvae showed two peaks of juvenile hormone hydrolytic activity: one near the end of the feeding phase and a smaller one just prior to pupal ecdysis. These peaks of enzyme activity correlated well with the low levels of haemolymph juvenile hormone. Juvenile hormone titres were high early in the stadium then showed a second peak during the prepupal stage coinciding with low esterase activity. Diapause haemolymph had peak juvenile hormone esterase activity nearly 4 times the nondiapause level, reaching a peak near the end of the feeding phase. Diapause-destined larvae retained high juvenile hormone titres even during the rise of the high esterase levels. 1-naphthyl acetate esterase levels did not correlate with the juvenile hormone esterase levels in either the diapause or nondiapause haemolymph. High levels of 1-naphthyl acetate esterase activity were associated with moulting periods.     

Endocrine interrelationship between the parasitoid Chelonus sp. and its host Trichoplusia ni

The egg-larval parasitoid Chelonus sp. induces the precocious onset of metamorphosis in the 4th (penultimate) stadium of its host Trichoplusia ni, emerges from the prepupa, and then feeds on it. Qualitative and quantitative changes in ecdysteroids and juvenile hormone were measured. Hemolymph of 3rd-to 4th-instar host larvae and the parasitoids they contained, as well as nonparasitized and parasitized eggs, were analyzed. In the host hemolymph a broad peak of ecdysteroids during molting into the 4th stadium and a continuous increase from day 2 (onset of precocious wandering) until day 4 (emergence of parasitoid) were observed; 20-hydroxyecdysone and 20,26-dihydroxyecdysone were predominant. The juvenile hormone titer fluctuated in the 3rd and early 4th stadium and fell to undetectable levels shortly before the precocious onset of wandering. The parasitoid's ecdysteroids started to increase on the molt to the 2nd instar (= early 4th instar of the host) and thereafter fluctuated on a high level, 20-hydroxyecdysone, 20,26-dihydroxy-ecdysone, and ecdysone being predominant. The juvenile hormone titer was high in late 1st-instar parasitoids, decreased to low levels at ecdysis into the 2nd instar, and increased again to high levels in the 2nd-instar larvae at the time when their shape changed from flat to cylindrical. After ecdysis to the 3rd instar the juvenile hormone titer fell. A comparison revealed that both ecdysteroids and juvenile hormone fluctuate independently in parasitoid and host at most stages, suggesting that the parasitoid produces its own hormones. The first data on ecdysteroids and juvenile hormones in the egg stage of a parasitoid/host system are reported. At the stage of eye pigmentation parasitized eggs contained more immunoreactive midpolar ecdysteroids than non-parasitized ones. 20-Hydroxyecdysone and 20,26-dihydroxyecdysone were the predominant ecdysteroids in both nonparasitized and parasitized eggs, but the latter contained several additional ecdysteroids which were not seen in nonparasitized eggs. The titer of juvenile hormone was similar in both. Shortly before hatching the ecdysteroids were low in parasitized and nonparasitized eggs, but the content of juvenile hormone was much higher in the former. At this stage the majority of parasitoids have already eclosed and teratocytes are released. The results of HPLC analysis indicated the presence of juvenile hormone III together with juvenile hormones I and II in parasitized eggs, but only juvenile hormones I and II in nonparasitized eggs.     

Juvenile hormone titres and metabolism during starvation-induced supernumerary larval moulting of the tobacco hornworm, Manduca sexta L.

When tobacco hornworm (manduca sexta) larvae are starved for 5 days immediately after ecdysis to the 5th instar, then fed normal diet, they undergo a supernumerary moult instead of metamorphosis. During starvation the titre of juvenile hormone in the haemolymph increased to a maximum of 3 ng juvenile hormone I equivalents/ml (determined by the black Manduca larval bioassay) on the fourth day of starvation, then began a decline which continued through the subsequent feeding period. The changes in juvenile hormone titre were not attributable to changes in haemolymph volume during starvation (only a 5% decrease) and subsequent feeding. During starvation the esterase activity of the haemolymph declined 4-fold with a 2-fold larger decrease in the DFP-insensitive, presumably juvenile hormone specific, esterase activity. Both the total and the juvenile hormone-specific esterase activity then increased as a function of larval weight during the subsequent feeding period. As growth was slow in the prolongedly starved larvae, sufficient juvenile hormone was present at the time of prothoracicotropic hormone (PTTH) and ecdysteroid release at the beginning of the fourth day of feeding to prevent metamorphosis.     

Juvenile hormone III biosynthesis by the larval corpora allata of Manduca sexta

A radioimmunoassay (RIA) for juvenile hormone III has been established which quantifies the biosynthesis of this hormone in vitro by the corpora allata of larvae and pupae of the tobacco hornworm, Manduca sexta. The specificity of the RIA for homologues and metabolites of juvenile hormone III was determined and it was found that the antibody was specific for juvenile hormone III and its acid. The juvenile hormone III RIA activity synthesized in vitro by corpora allata from day-5 last-instar larvae was identified as juvenile hormone III by high pressure liquid chromatography. The kinetics of hormone synthesis by corpora allata from selected stages during larval-pupal development revealed differential rates of synthesis, suggesting that juvenile hormone III may have a hormonal function in the larva and that regulation of its synthesis may occur. The significance of these developmental fluctuations in rates of juvenile hormone III synthesis by the corpora allata is discussed in relation to the haemolymph titres of the hormone.     

Biochemical and immunological properties of different electrophoretic forms of juvenile hormone esterase from Trichoplusia ni (Hübner)

The two major electrophoretic forms (pI 5.5, 5.3) of juvenile hormone esterase were independently isolated from hemolymph of larval Trichoplusia ni. A simple and rapid preparation procedure of poly(ethylene glycol) precipitation, Sephadex gel filtration and chromatofocusing is described. Analytical isoelectric focusing showed only one peak of juvenile hormone esterase activity in the respective purified samples, whereas there were four (two major) such peaks in the hemolymph. The amino acid composition of the two forms was similar. The comparison of peptides obtained after protein fragmentation by cyanogen bromide showed that juvenile hormone esterases A and B were very similar, although definitely not identical, in amino acid sequence. The immunological comparisons of juvenile hormone esterases suggested that the number of polyclonal antibody binding sites on both forms was the same. There were no detected differences between immunoreactive properties of juvenile hormone esterase from the hemolymph of different stages of larval maturation. The influence of the active site of the enzyme on its antigenic properties was studied by immunocompetition. The inactive, heat-denatured juvenile hormone esterase can only partially protect against inhibition of its activity by the antibodies, whereas an organophosphate inhibitor which covalently binds to the catalytic center of the enzyme did not change the immunoreactive properties in comparison to active juvenile hormone esterase from hemolymph. These data show that heat-denatured juvenile hormone esterase has lost at least one or more epitopes, but the catalytic site of the enzyme is distinct from the epitopes.     

The effects of allatectomy and juvenile hormone replacement on the development of host-seeking behaviour and lactic acid receptor sensitivity in the mosquito Aedes aegypti

Host-seeking behaviour in newly emerged Aedes aegypti (L.) females is not expressed immediately after adult eclosion but develops gradually over a period of approximately 3-4 days. This development is accompanied by an apparent maturation of the antennal chemosensory afferent neurons involved in the detection of the airborne host attractant lactic acid. Since these events coincide in time with juvenile hormone-dependent previtellogenic ovarian growth and since the expression of other reproduction-associated behaviour has previously been shown to be dependent on juvenile hormone, the effects of juvenile hormone removal and replacement on the development of host-seeking behaviour and the response characteristics of the lactic acid-sensitive receptors were investigated. No effect of juvenile hormone removal by allatectomy or juvenile hormone replacement or augmentation by topical application of the juvenile hormone mimic methoprene was found. It was concluded that this hormone is not involved in the appearance of host-seeking behaviour or the apparent maturation of the lactic acid receptors that occurs during early imaginal life.     

The effect of juvenile hormone on prothoracic gland function during the larval-pupal development of Manduca sexta: An in situ and in vitro analysis

The application of juvenile hormone I or ZR 512 to neck-ligated, day-5 fifth instar (V₅) larvae reduced the time to pupation in a dose-dependent manner when compared to neck-ligated controls treated with methyl epoxy stearate. Haemolymph ecdysteroid titres determined by radioimmunoassay (RIA) reflected the ability of juvenile hormone I and ZR 512 to stimulate larval-pupal development, i.e. the ecdysteroid titres were similar to those of normally developing larvae although the ecdysteroid peak elicited by ZR 512 lagged that in the normal titre by 1 day, while that elicited by juvenile hormone I lagged the ecdysteroid peak in normal larvae by 2 days. Neck-ligated V₅ larvae that were untreated ultimately pupated and the haemolymph ecdysteroid peak eliciting pupation in these animals was 7 μg/ml haemolymph, almost double that of normal animals and ZR 512- and juvenile hormone I-treated, ligated larvae. The data indicated that juvenile hormone I does stimulate the prothoracic glands but to determine whether this stimulation was direct or indirect, an in vitro approach was taken. Prothoracic glands from V₅, V₆ and V₇ larvae were incubated in vitro under conditions in which they could be stimulated by prothoracicotropic hormone, and were exposed to concentration of free juvenile hormones I, II, III or ZR 512 ranging from 10^?5M to 10^?10M. In no case were the prothoracic glands stimulated in a dose-dependent manner that would be indicative of hormone activation. Similar results were obtained when juvenile hormone bound to binding protein was incubated with the prothoracic glands. Studies with the acids of the three juvenile hormone homologues revealed them to be ineffective in activating prothoracic glands, although juvenile hormone III acid does appear to inhibit the synthesis of ecdysone by day-0 pupal prothoracic glands. The significance of the latter effect is unknown. It is concluded from these data that juvenile hormone can, indeed, activate late larval prothoracic glands in situ, but does so indirectly.     

Juvenile Hormone Controls Oviposition and Fertility in Drosophila virilis during Starvation

Degradation of juvenile hormone and reproductive function during starvation and experimental increase of the juvenile hormone titer were studied in wild type and mutant D. virilis females incapable to respond to heat stress by changes in juvenile hormone metabolism and fertility. After 24-hour starvation, the females of both lines were characterized by a decreased level of juvenile hormone degradation, 24-hour delay of oviposition, increased oviposition within 3 h after the termination of starvation, and decreased fertility within three days. Application of exogenous juvenile hormone also led to a decreased level of its degradation and 24-hour arrest of oviposition. Experimental increase of the juvenile hormone titer before the beginning of starvation led to a sharply increase fertility (number of laid eggs and number of progenies) within the first 24 h after the termination of starvation. The dynamics of juvenile hormone degradation and of fertility were similar after starvation and upon application of the exogenous hormone. The role of juvenile hormone in the control of egg maturation and laying under stress conditions has been discussed.     

Improved assay conditions for measurement of corpus allatum activity in vitro in the adult Colorado potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata

Assay conditions for the short-term, radiochemical, in vitro determination of the spontaneous rate of juvenile biosynthesis by isolated corpora allata from Leptinotarsa decemlineata have been further improved, permitting the measurement of juvenile hormone biosynthesis by individual pairs of corpora allata. The final incubation product has been identified as juvenile hormone III with the aid of High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and juvenile hormone esterase degradation. Using the new assay conditions, the activities of adult corpora allata during maturation were found to be significantly higher in reproductive, long-day animals than in pre-diapause, short-day beetles. During diapause no activity was detectable, whereas corpora allata from post-diapause beetles were reactivated totally after 5 days. Simultaneous determination of the in vitro rates of juvenile hormone biosynthesis and corpus allatum volumes revealed no clear correlation although the results suggest that the volume may be indicative of the maximal capacity for juvenile hormone production. Corpora allata from a population of beetles did not display any synchronous diurnal rhythmicity.     

Juvenile hormone controls egg laying and fertility in Drosophila virilis during starvation

Degradation of juvenile hormone and reproductive function during starvation and experimental increase of the juvenile hormone titer were studied in wild type and mutant D. virilis females incapable to respond to heat stress by changes in juvenile hormone metabolism and fertility. After 24-hour starvation, the females of both lines were characterized by a decreased level of juvenile hormone degradation, 24-hour delay of egg laying, increased egg laying within 3 h after the termination of starvation, and decreased fertility within three days. Application of exogenous juvenile hormone also led to a decreased level of its degradation and 24-hour arrest of egg laying. Experimental increase of the juvenile hormone titer before the beginning of starvation led to a sharply increased fertility (number of laid eggs and number of progenies) within the first 24 h after the termination of starvation. The dynamics of juvenile hormone degradation and of fertility were similar after starvation and upon application of the exogenous hormone. The role of juvenile hormone in the control of egg maturation and laying under stress conditions has been discussed.