Abstract
Recent investigations on the massive accumulation of juvenile hormones I and II in adult male Hyalophora cecropia have revealed that the corpora allata (CA) are not secreting juvenile hormones (JH) but JH acids and that the accessory sex glands (ASG) convert the JH acids to JH. This study is a detailed investigation of specific aspects of the development and physiology of these two organs in order to resolve these apparently enigmatic phenomena. The corpora allata of male and female early 5th instar larvae secrete JH-I and JH-II in vitro. Since the corpora allata of adult males lack the JH acid methyltransferase necessary to form JH, the loss of this enzyme must occur during metamorphosis. The transplantation of corpora allata from post-diapausing male or female pupae into pupae of the opposite sex does not change the dimorphic development of the corpora allata. After metamorphosis in the opposite sex, the male corpora allata maintained their typically high secretory activity and the female corpora allata their low activity. During pharate adult development the accessory sex glands of male Cecropia begin secreting the luminal material six days prior to adult eclosion and have completed the process one day before eclosion. The ability to accumulate JH-I from JH-I acid in the ASG also begins six days before adult eclosion. Initially, the accumulation rate is low and increases slightly during the final days of adult development. Only in the last day before adult emergence will this ability reach adult levels. The ratio of juvenile hormones accumulated in the ASG is due in part to the discrimination between the JH acids during accumulation..
Shirk, Paul David (1978). A causal analysis of juvenile hormone accumulation in adult male Hyalophora cecropia (L.) (Lepidoptera, Saturniidae). Texas A&M University. Texas A&M University. Libraries. Available electronically from
https : / /hdl .handle .net /1969 .1 /DISSERTATIONS -199067.