THE EUPYRENE-APYRENE DICHOTOMOUS SPERMATOGENESIS OF LEPIDOPTERA. ORGAN CULTURE STUDY ON THE TIMING OF APYRENE COMMITMENT IN THE CODLING MOTH

Abstract

Lepidopteran spermatogenesis is dichotomous, producing eupyrene (nucleated) and apyrene (anucleated) spermatozoa. The eupyrene precedes the apyrene spermatogenesis. The timing of the switchover from eupyrene to apyrene spermatogenesis was determined by cultivating testes of accurately aged codling moth larvae in a medium containing mammalian serum but neither hemolymph nor insect hormones. In cultures, eupyrene spermatogenesis occurred in testes dissected from either 4th or 5th instar larvae, probably due to macromolecular factor-like activity of the serum of the medium. But apyrene spermatogenesis occurred only in testes explanted during or after the fourth day of the 5th instar larva. It is concluded that: (1) An apyrene spermatogenesis inducing factor (ASIF) becomes active on the fourth day of the 5th instar larva in addition to the already existing macromolecular factor. (2) Primary spermatocytes can develop into either eupyrene or apyrene spermatozoa. (3) The apyrene spermatogenesis commitment and pupal commitment of other tissues coincide about the fourth day of the 5th instar larva.