The effect of ovary implants on juvenile hormone production by corpora allata of male Diploptera punctata.
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In the cockroach Diploptera punctata, vitellogenic basal oocytes stimulate juvenile hormone production by the corpora allata. Experiments with males were designed to determine whether oocytes must grow vitellogenically in order to stimulate juvenile hormone production. Two ovarioles with vitellogenic basal oocytes were implanted into unoperated and sham-operated males that do not produce vitellogenin, and males with denervated corpora allata, that produce more juvenile hormone, and sometimes more vitellogenin. Males with corpora allata in similar conditions were injected with saline as controls. In males with denervated corpora allata compared to sham-operated and unoperated males, the implanted basal oocytes showed a greater increase in length, protein, and vitellin content. Juvenile hormone synthesis by denervated corpora allata in males with ovariole implants was greater than in controls. In 10 of 50 males with denervated corpora allata in which one or no ovarioles grew, juvenile hormone production was not higher than in controls. This suggests that if sufficient juvenile hormone is not present to produce vitellogenin, or oocytes do not take vitellogenin up, juvenile hormone production is not stimulated. In sham-operated males implanted with ovarioles, no difference was detected in juvenile hormone synthesis compared to controls. However when unoperated males were used a significant increase was detected. This suggests that intact nerves from the brain to the corpora allata restrained juvenile hormone production so that ovarioles could elicit only slight stimulation of the corpora allata, and oocytes continued vitellogenesis but more slowly than in denervated males. Thus the extent of vitellogenesis appears to determine the ability of ovaries to stimulate juvenile hormone production. (+info)
Concentrations of erythromycin and azithromycin in mature Chinook salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha after intraperitoneal injection, and in their progeny.
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A single dose (40 mg kg(-1)) of erythromycin or azithromycin dihydrate was injected intraperitoneally into maturing female fall Chinook salmon 12 to 32 d before spawning to observe the distribution, retention and clearance of the drugs in plasma, kidney, coelomic fluid and egg vitellin, and their persistence in alevins derived from these fish. Salmon administered prophylactic dosages of erythromycin as subadults were also included to investigate potential interactive effects of oral and injected treatments on reproductive performance and antibiotic clearance. Erythromycin was rapidly cleared from plasma and coelomic fluid, but was detected in the kidney (3.52 to 12.40 microg g(-1)) and egg vitellin (5.32 to 8.87 microg ml(-1)) of all fish at spawning. High, stable concentrations of azithromycin were detected in plasma (14.66 to 20.33 microg ml(-1)), kidney (43.16 to 59.96 microg g(-1)), coelomic fluid (2.52 to 5.50 microg ml(-1)) and egg vitellin (12.65 to 23.51 microg ml(-1)). Oral administration of erythromycin to subadult salmon did not significantly affect tissue concentrations of either erythromycin or azithromycin administered by prespawning injection. Reductions in the percentage of eggs that yielded live embryos at the eyed stage of development occurred among eggs derived from females that had received orally administered erythromycin as subadults. Erythromycin was not detected in unfed fry derived from adults injected with the drug prespawning, but azithromycin was present for more than 2 mo after the onset of exogenous feeding. (+info)
Calcium-regulated fusion of yolk granules is important for yolk degradation during early embryogenesis of Rhodnius prolixus Stahl.
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This study examined the process of membrane fusion of yolk granules (YGs) during early embryogenesis of Rhodnius prolixus. We show that eggs collected at days 0 and 3 after oviposition contain different populations of YGs, for example day-3 eggs are enriched in large YGs (LYGs). Day-3 eggs also contain the highest free [Ca(2+)] during early embryogenesis of this insect. In vitro incubations of day-0 YGs with [Ca(2+)] similar to those found in day-3 eggs resulted in the formation of LYGs, as observed in vivo. Fractionation of LYGs and small YGs (SYGs) and their subsequent incubation with the fluorescent membrane marker PKH67 showed a calcium-dependent transference of fluorescence from SYGs to LYGs, possibly as the result of membrane fusion. Acid phosphatase and H(+)-PPase activities were remarkably increased in day-3 LYGs and in calcium-treated day-0 LYGs. Both fractions were found to contain vitellins as major components, and incubation of YGs with calcium induced yolk proteolysis in vitro. Altogether, our results suggest that calcium-induced membrane fusion events take part in yolk degradation, leading to the assembly of the yolk mobilization machinery. (+info)
Influence of exposure to imidacloprid on survivorship, reproduction and vitellin content of the carmine spider mite, Tetranychus cinnabarinus.
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