Juvenile hormone biosynthesis by the corpora allata of the male desert locust, Schistocerca gregaria, during sexual maturation

Abstract

The time course of release of C₁₆ juvenile hormone (JH III) from isolated corpora allata (CA) of male Schistocerca gregaria was followed at selected times during sexual maturation. The rates of JH release over an 8-h incubation period were observed to be directly related to the age of the animals: CA from younger animals showed low rates of release (days 5 and 8) whereas CA from older animals showed intermediate to high rates of release (days 12–13). The mean rate of JH release is linear for at least 4 h. The only biosynthesized JH which could be detected in the incubation medium by radio gas–liquid chromatography was C₁₆JH.The dry weight of the accessory reproductive glands (ARG) was also followed during the period of sexual maturation. This increased rapidly between days 10 and 15 and leveled off thereafter. The biosynthesis of C₁₆JH, as determined by a radiochemical assay in vitro, also increased during this period, suggesting a functional relationship between synthesis of ARG secretion and JH.