Accumulation of secretory proteins in the accessory reproductive glands of the male migratory grasshopper, Melanoplus sanguinipes: A developmental study

Production of secretion in the accessory reproductive glands of male Melanoplus sanguinipes has been examined by electrophoresis and radiolabelling. The secretion of each group of tubules (long hyaline glands, white glands, short hyaline glands, and seminal vesicles) can be resolved into more than 20 protein bands and includes several glycoproteins and, in the long hyaline and white glands only, lipoproteins. Each group of tubules has a characteristic pattern of synthesis and accumulation of proteins; that is, specific proteins appear in the secretion at particular times during sexual maturation. In allatectomized insects, the long hyaline glands accumulate very little secretion; the white glands and short hyaline glands accumulate about one-third the normal amount; and accumulation in the seminal vesicles is not affected by the operation. Allatectomy exerts its effect by inhibiting the synthesis of particular proteins. The observations are discussed in terms of juvenile hormone-specific protein synthesis in the accessory reproductive glands.