Corpus cardiacum — a target for azadirachtin

Summary Azadirachtin A, an insect growth inhibitor derived from neem seed, when injected at a physiological dose, inhibits the hormonally controlled ovarian development inLocusta migratoria. Its tritiated dihydro derivative concentrates more in the corpus cardiacum than in the brain. Translocation and release of the neurosecretory proteins labeled with L-³⁵S]-cysteine in the corpus cardiacum is very poor in locusts under azadirachtin stress. It is concluded that azadirachtin may influence the release of trophic hormones from the corpus cardiacum leading to alterations in timing and titer of morphogenetic hormone pools.