Identification of gonadotropic and antigonadotropic factors from the nervous part of the corpora cardiaca in the African locust

Summary

The nervous part of the locust corpora cardiaca (NCC) was extracted using 70% methanol and subjected to fast protein liquid chromatography (FPLC). Twenty fractions were collected and injected into females from the end of the IIIrd larval instar to day-12 of the adult life to screen the effects on metamorphosis, body pigmentation, and oocyte growth. The rate of juvenile hormone (JH) biosynthesis by the corpora allata of injected animals was evaluated in vitro. One fraction was found to stimulate ovarian maturation, and 3 to delay oocyte growth. None of them disturbed (i) either metamorphosis and body color (which are JH dependent), or (ii) rate of JH biosynthesis. Of the 3 fractions which inhibited ovarian maturation, 2 of them were identified as the neuroparsins A and B. The results clearly illustrate that antagonist factors from the brain are involved in the regulation of ovarian maturation in the locust.