The Effect of Some Biologically Active Compounds on Growth of House Fly Ovaries

Abstract

Fifteen synthetics and 3 materials of biological origin were tested for their effect on ovarian growth by feeding them to the house fly (Musca domestica). Coumarin, 1-phenyl-2-thiourea, piperonyl butoxide, p-quinone, and thiourea completely inhibited ovarian growth at the concentrations tested, but fish ovarian extract, "queen substance" (a honey bee secretion), and the potassium salt of gibberellic acid had no effect. When injected into the flies, neither "queen substance " nor gibberellic acid showed any effect on growth or as a toxic agent. Fish ovarian extract did not affect viability when applied to newly laid eggs, nor did gibberellic acid cause any change in growth at any stage when introduced in the larval medium.