Influence of prior exposure of male khapra beetle (Trogoderma granarium) to female sex pheromone on their mating ability

Résumé L'exposition prolongée desTrogoderma mâles vierges au phéromone sexuel femelle a réduit considérablement leur capacité d'accouplement, quoiquil y eút des femelles à proximité. Ce fait résultes probablement de l'épuisement des organes excités pendant l'exposition au phéromone sexuel.     

The male reproductive system of the spruce budworm,Choristoneura fumiferana. 3. Incorporation into seminal components of leucine released during apolysis

Résumé Durant l'apolyse de la nymphe deChoristoneura fumiferana la leucine radio-active, qui faisait corps avec la proteine, est mise en liberté. L'amino-acide libre s'y infiltre dans les composants séminaux tels que le spermatophore, la semence et autres. On recommande l'uridine radio-active pour détecter la semence seule.     

Studies on the chemical constitution and sex pheromone activity of volatile substances emitted byDacus oleae

Summary Volatile substances from the females ofDacus oleae have been submitted to GLC-MS analysis and several components identified. E-6-nonen-1-ol and p-cymene displayed attractive and aphrodisiac effects in both laboratory and field experiments.Part of this work has been presented at the 4th International Congress of Pesticide Chemistry (IUPAC), Zurich, July 1978-Comm. III, 230 and at the 11th International Symposium on the Chemistry of Natural Products (IUPAC) Varna, September 1978.This work has been supported by the CNR, special ad hoc program Fitofarmaci e Fitoregolatori subproject 2.     

Studies on the sex pheromone ofDacus oleae. Analysis of the substances contained in the rectal glands

Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences - 17 substances contained in the rectal glands ofDacus oleae have been, identified by GC-MS techniques. The synthesis of 3 isomeric spiroketals allows us...     

Chiral influence of sex pheromonal substances on responses of the male American cockroach

Summary In order to elucidate the roles of optical enantiomers of sex pheromonal substances of the American cockroach, behavioral assays with a single enantiomer and with mixtures of enantiomers of sex pheromone mimics were carried out. Inactive enantiomers [(–)-enantiomers] had no influence on the potency of enantiomers active as sex pheromones [(+)-enantiomers]. By analysis of the results from EAG recordings with single and mixed sample of the enantiomers, it was confirmed that (–)-enantiomers did not react with the sex pheromone receptors which are responsive to (+)-enantiomers.We acknowledge technical assistance from Miss R. Kimura.     

Effect of sex hormones on plasma cholesterol in castrated and noncastrated male rats

Summary The administration of estradiol to both castrated and noncastrated male rats was associated with significantly increased plasma cholesterol levels as compared to controls, the estradiol in the noncastrated rats overriding the tendency of testosterone to lower plasma cholesterol.Acknowledgement. This work was supported by USPHS Grant NHLBI 17721.     

Effect of sex hormones on plasma cholesterol in castrated and noncastrated male rats

The administration of estradiol to both castrated and noncastrated male rats was associated with significantly increased plasma cholesterol levels as compared to controls, the estradiol in the noncastrated rats overriding the tendency of testosterone to lower plasma cholesterol.     

Regulation of male sex determination: genital ridge formation and Sry activation in mice

Sex determination is essential for the sexual reproduction to generate the next generation by the formation of functional male or female gametes. In mammals, primary sex determination is commenced by the presence or absence of the Y chromosome, which controls the fate of the gonadal primordium. The somatic precursor of gonads, the genital ridge is formed at the mid-gestation stage and gives rise to one of two organs, a testis or an ovary. The fate of the genital ridge, which is governed by the differentiation of somatic cells into Sertoli cells in the testes or granulosa cells in the ovaries, further determines the sex of an individual and their germ cells. Mutation studies in human patients with disorders of sex development and mouse models have revealed factors that are involved in mammalian sex determination. In most of mammals, a single genetic trigger, the Y-linked gene Sry (sex determination region on Y chromosome), regulates testicular differentiation. Despite identification of Sry in 1990, precise mechanisms underlying the sex determination of bipotential genital ridges are still largely unknown. Here, we review the recent progress that has provided new insights into the mechanisms underlying genital ridge formation as well as the regulation of Sry expression and its functions in male sex determination of mice.     

The male pheromone of the old house borerHylotrupes bajulus (L.) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae): Identification and female response

We report here the identification of the long-range, male-produced sex pheromone of the Old house borerHylotrupes bajulus. Chemical analysis of hexane extracts obtained by surface extraction from dissected prothoracic glands and from headspace samples of the two sexes, revealed male-specific compounds: (3R)-3-hydroxy-2-hexanone, 2-hydroxy-3-hexanone, the diastereomeric diols (2R, 3R)-2,3-hexanediol and (2S, 3R)-2,3-hexanediol, 2,3-hexanedione, as well as 1-butanol.In wind tunnel bioassays we tested the influence of these male-specific compounds from the prothoracal glands on the behaviour of unmated and mated females. Specific behavioural sequences of the tested females (activity, running behaviour, searching, cleaning, flying, extension of ovipositor) were recorded. Unmated females were attracted by male beetles, headspace extracts of males, synthetic blends of the major pheromone compounds as well as by the components (3R)-3-hydroxy-2-hexanone, and the diastereomeric diols. Hexane, female beetles and 2,3-hexanedione did not attract unmated females. The reactions of mated females to male beetles and headspace samples did not differ significantly from those of the controls.The results of the bioassays show that the two-stage premating behaviour is initiated by emission of a long-range sex pheromone from the male prothoracal glands, which functions as an activator, attractant, and possibly aphrodisiac for unmated females.     

The oak leaf roller (Archips semiferanus Walker) sex pheromone complex: Field and laboratory evaluation of requisite behavioral stimuli

Zusammenfassung Die früher als Bestandteile der von Abdominalextrakten des weiblichen Eichenblattrollers,Archips semiferanus Walker, festgestellten 21 Isomeren von Tetradecenyl-Acetat wurden mit der Elektroantennogram-(EAG) und der Fallenfang-Methode auf ihre Wirkung bei Männchen vonA. semiferanus geprüft. Während alle 21 Isomere sich als EAG-aktiv erwiesen, vermochten nur 17 Männchen anzulocken. Aktivitätsvergleiche der Isomeren haben gezeigt, dass zwischen den Resultaten der beiden Test-Methoden nur eine geringe Beziehung existiert.

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The Pennsylvania State University, Department of Entomology and Pesticide Research Laboratory, University Park, Penna 16802, USA.

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Note added in proof: For a possible explanation of these results seeL. B. Hendry, J. K. Wichmann, D. M. Hindenlang, R. O. Mumma andM. E. Anderson, Science188, 59 (1975).