In vitro synthesis and release of proteins by fat body and ovarian tissue of Leucophaea maderae during the sexual cycle

Fat body, ovaries without their surrounding connective tissue, and ovarian connective tissue of the ovoviviparous cockroach Leucophaea maderae were incubated in vitro. Incorporation of ¹⁴C-labelled amino acids into proteins by all three tissues was investigated quantitatively and qualitatively during oöcyte maturation (corpora allata active), immediately after ovulation, and during the gestation period (corpora allata inactive). Proteins in the tissues and in the incubation media were processed separately. The qualitative analysis involving disk electrophoretic separation of Ringer soluble tissue proteins or of proteins in the incubation media and subsequent autoradiography of the dried gels showed that all three tissues synthesize the same 26 proteins in all stages of the sexual cycle. An additional fraction is produced by the ovarian connective tissue only. All three tissues synthesize proteins at a higher rate during oöcyte maturation than during gestation.