Variations des taux d'ecdystéroïdes au cours du développement deBombyx mori; rapport entre ces variations et les phases de croissance et de morphogenèse

Summary During the development ofBombyx mori (monovoltin race) ecdysteroid levels were determined in oocytes, eggs, and haemolymph of larvae, and in the haemolymph of pupae. In haemolymph, the only RIA reactive materials are ecdysone and ecdysterone. In oocytes and eggs, other ecdysteroids are also detected. During larval instars, the ecdysteroid levels are low whereas they are very high during morphogenetic periods. During embryonic diapause, the ecdysone titer decreases during the cessation of morphogenesis.     

Haemolymph ecdysteroids level following the injection of ecdysone or ecdysterone; its relation with tegument and midgut response inAeshna cyanea (Insecta,Odonata)

Summary The haemolymph ecdysteroid level after injection of ecdysone or ecdysterone inAeshna cyanea larvae has been determined by a radioimmunoassay method. The rate of excretion appears to be dependent on both the ecdysteroid injected and the time of injection. In case of ecdysone injection, the secretion of the epidermis cuticle and the differentiation of the imaginal midgut epithelium occur when the ecdysteroid level remains low for many days.     

Critical period and ecdysone titers in the pupae ofPieris brassicae

Summary The ecdysone titer in the haemolymph of pupae of Pieris brassicae shows a sharp peak (1.90 g/ml) on days 5 and 6 of the pupal stage. Isolated abdomens were able to form adult abdomens at 72 h, this being 2 or 3 days before maximum ecdysone levels and at a time when the concentration of hormone in the abdominal haemolymph was only 0.23 g/ml.     

Endocrine significance of critical periods during insect development: Analysis of ligation experiments withPieris brassicae last instar larvae

Summary Ecdysone haemolymph levels have been analyzed in neck- or thorax-ligatedPieris larvae in order to explain the physiological significance of critical periods. It appeared that head critical period corresponds to an incomplete activation of prothoracic glands, while the thoracic critical period is related to the secretion of a minimal amount of ecdysone necessary for moulting. DuringPieris' last larval instar, there is no evidence for any noticeable synthesis of ecdysone in isolated abdomens.Acknowledgment. This work was partially supported by CNRS, ATP Mécanisme d'action des Hormones.     

External factors and ecdysone release inCalliphora erythrocephala

Summary Ecdysone level is measured in the haemolymph of normal larvae and of larvae submitted to external stimulation. External stimulation delays the release of ecdysone and the formation of puparium. The adaptative value of the mechanism which connects the ecdysone titre to external stimulation is discussed.     

Protein level in the haemolymph of the waspPolistes gallicus L. at the beginning of imaginal life and during overwintering. Action of the strepsiterian parasiteXenos vesparum rossi

Summary During the imaginal life of malePolistes wasps, the protein concentration in the haemolymph remained constant. In females, there were 2 groups; one in which this concentration was also stable and another in which it increased. No difference was detected between the haemolymphatic protein level of stylopized males and normal ones. All parasitized females exhibited low haemolymph protein levels similar to those of the low level group.     

Free amino acids of the haemolymph of the cotton leaf-worm,Spodoptera littoralis Boisduval full-grown larvae,infected with nuclear-polyhedrosis virus

Summary Free amino acids in the haemolymph ofSpodoptera littoralis full-grown larvae infected with a nuclearpolyhedrosis virus were compared with those in the haemolymph of normal insects. Amino acids were separated by 2-dimensional paper chromatography and quantified colorimetrically. Most of the amino acids in the haemolymph of diseased full-grown larvae decreased markedly in concentration but proline, lysine, aspartic acid and histidine occurred in greater concentration in the haemolymph of diseased full-grown larvae than in the haemolymph of healthy insects.     

Circadian variation of serum testosterone in the adult male rat with a late morning acrophase

Summary Serum testosterone concentrations were measured in adult male Sprague-Dawley rats. A significant circadian testosterone rhythm (p<0.01) was found with peak values at 10.00 and 13.00 h.Supported in part by NIH, NCI Grant No. CA 15062 and NIH, NIAMDD Grant No. 5 RO1 AM11376.The authors would like to acknowledge the excellent technical assistance of Ms.Kris Strom.     

Ecdysteroid titers during larval reproduction of the dipteran insectHeteropeza pygmae

Summary Ecdysteroid titers were measured in whole-body extracts of pedogenetically reproducing larvae of the dipteran insectHeteropeza pygmaea and in the dietary fungus. The titers are very low in the first 3 days of larval growth, but increase during the last 2 days. The level of 20-hydroxyecdysone is then significantly higher than that of ecdysone. Measurements of the titers in the fungus gave no conclusive results.Supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation, grants No. 3.218-0.77 to D.F.W. and 3.714-0.80 to B.L. We thank Xiang-Xiong Zhu for help with the RIA and Mrs G. Rhyner for technical assistance. Gifts of ecdysone antiserum from Dr J. D. O'Connor and of 23,24-[³H₂]-ecdysone from Dr J. Koolman are also gratefully acknowledged.     

Allantoinase in the marine polychaeteEudistylia vancouveri

Summary Allantoinase, an enzyme in the purine-urea cycle, was found inEudistylia vancouveri (Polychaeta). The enzyme had a pH optimum at 7.6 TheK _m was 0.012M allantoin, and the Arrhenius energy of activation was 12.6 to 14.6 kcal/mol.Supported by the U. S. National Science Foundation (Institutional Grant) and by the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency Grant No. T-900204 (WP-175). Publication No. 10 of the Laboratory of Biochemical Ecology; College of Fisheries Contribution No. 458. We thank Dr.Robert L. Fernald for generously making available to us the facilities of the Friday Harbor Laboratories, Friday Harbor, Washington.     

Changes in protein-calcium association during different hours of a day in the haemolymph of the crabScylla serrata (Forskal)

Summary InScylla serrata, the haemolymph free calcium and bound calcium showed fluctuations during the different hours of the day. Whenever bound calcium decreased or increased in the haemolymph, the free calcium increased or decreased respectively; the significance of this is discussed. Besides, the suitability and reliability of Webster's chloranilic acid method, compared with other methods for the determination of haemolymph free and bound calcium, are empirically assessed.     

Effects of the pyrimidine-containing cytochrome P-450 inhibitor,fenarimol, on the formation of 20-OH ecdysone in flies

Summary The effect of fenarimol, a pyrimidine-containing cytochrome P-450 inhibitor, was tested in vitro on brain-ring gland complexes ofCalliphora vicina (Dipt., Calliphoridae), and on microsomes prepared from the fat body of 0-h wandering stage larvae ofNeobellieria bullata (Dipt., Sacrophagidae). Fenarimol had no influence on the formation of ecdysone, but it was an effective inhibitor of cytochrome P-450-dependent ecdysone 20-monooxygenase.     

Comparison of the effects of illumination on the melanophores of intact and eyestalkless fiddler crabs,Uca pugilator,and inhibition of the primary response by cytochalasin B

Summary Approximately 100 times more illumination is required to produce pigment dispersion in the melanophores of eyestalkless fiddler crabs (Uca pugilator) than in the melanophores of intact crabs. The pigment in melanophores of isolated legs will normally disperse in response to irradiation, but this response is inhibited by cytochalasin B.This investigation was supported by a Faculty Research Grant from Western Kentucky University toT. P. Coohill and by Grant No. GB-27497 toM. Fingerman from the National Science Foundation.     

Drosophila alcohol dehydrogenase isozymes: Identity of molecular size

Zusammenfassung Drosophila besitzt Alkoholdehydrogenase in mehreren elektrophoretisch trennbaren molekularen Formen. Durch Anwendung von Acrylamid-Elektrophorese bei 2 verschiedenen Gel-Konzentrationen haben wir nachgewiesen, dass diese verschiedenen Isozyme sich nicht in ihrer Molekulargrösse unterscheiden und deshalb nicht Aggregate darstellen.

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Work supported by NIH Training Grant No. HD 139-01 and NSF Grant No. GB-4451.     

Selected decrease of haemocytes of the freshwater snailPlanorbarius corneus (L.) (Gastropoda,Pulmonata) after bacteria injection

Summary The decrease of haemolymph phagocytic cells (SH) inPlanorbarius corneus after bacterial injection seems to be mediated by humoral factor(s) released into the haemolymph. SH show different adhesiveness in vitro in the presence of bacterial metabolic products.     

Defensive substances of opilionids

Summary The defensive secretions of 4 species of opilionids were analyzed.Leiobunum ventricosum andHadrobunus maculosus produce 4-methylheptan-3-one, whileL. calcar produces E-4,6-dimethyl-6-octen-3-one.L. longipes produces E-4,6-dimethyl-6-nonen-3-one, a new natural product.Paper No. 51 of the seriesDefensive Mechanisms of Arthropods.Acknowledgments. Partial support by the National Institutes of Health (Grant Nos. AI-12020 and AI-02908 and Fellowship No. 1-F32-CA05139 to T.H.J.) and the National Science Foundation (Grant No. BMS 75-15084) is gratefully acknowledged. We thank Dr.W. A. Shear for identifying the opilionids.     

Changes in the free amino acids of the haemolymph of diapause and non-diapause pupae of the cotton bollworm,Heliothis armigera Hbn. (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Summary The concentration of free amino acids in the haemolymph of non-diapausing and diapausing pupae ofHeliothis armigera was investigated. 20 amino acids were detected in the haemolymph of the studied stages. Asparagine, glutamine, cystine, ornithine, histidine and valine were the predominant free amino acids at all stages. The diapause resulted in increased levels of most of the amino acids.     

On the contribution of haemolymph to the salivary proteins of the red cotton bug,Dysdercus koenigii F. (Heteroptera,Pyrrhocoridae)

Summary Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of haemolymph and the salivary gland of adult maleDysdercus koenigii has been carried out. The presence of common bands in the electropherograms of the salivary gland and haemolymph shows the possible elaboration of haemolymph protein into the salivary glands as also evidenced by leucomethylene blue incorporation into the salivary gland lobules. The results are discussed in the light of our present state of knowledge.I wish to acknowledge the financial support from the C.S.I.R., New Delhi, India. Grateful acknowledgements are made to Prof. P.S. Ramamurty for encouragements, and to Zoology Department, Banaras Hindu University for the working facilities.     

Influence of corpora allata and brain extract on the lipid release from the fat body of termite queen Odontotermes assmuthi

Summary Short term in vitro experiments on the influence of the extracts of corpora allata and brain from the termite queenOdontotermes assmuthi on the lipid release from the fat body into the haemolymph indicated that the extract of corpora allata does not influence the lipid mobilization, whereas the brain extract increases the free fatty acid level in the haemolymph. It is believed that the brain extract stimulates triglyceride hydrolysis in the fat body.     

Cell fusion as a mechanism for the origin of polyploid cells in vitro

Zusammenfassung In Kulturen vonPeromyscus maniculatus und inMuntiacus muntjak wurden Tetraploidzellen gefunden, die als Produkte von Zellfusionen aufgefasst werden. Es wird angenommen, dass die ursprünglichen diploiden Elemente sich im Zeitpunkt der Fusion in verschiedenen Phasen des Zellzyklus befunden haben.

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Supported in part by NIH fellowship No. 1-F02-CA-42, 531-02 from the National Cancer Institute, USPHS grant No. GM-15361, and Grant No. E 286 from the American Cancer Society.