Ecdysteroid titers in mated and unmated Drosophila melanogaster females

Lawrence G. Harshman, Anne M. Loeb, Beth A. Johnson

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

52 Scopus citations

Abstract

Radioimmunoassay was used to determine ecdysteroid titers in mated or unmated Drosophila melanogaster females. Whole-body ecdysteroid titers increase after mating and this response is more pronounced after 12-24 hours than it is immediately after mating. In one experiment, females were mated to transgenic males deficient in accessory gland proteins to test whether these peptides mediate the observed increase in female whole-body ecdysteroid titers. Females mated to such transgenic males do not show a pronounced increase in whole-body ecdysteroid titers. The effect of mating on female hemolymph ecdysteroid titers was also investigated. Hemolymph ecdysteroid titers decrease after mating. The ecdysteroid titer change in the hemolymph may result from yolk protein uptake of ecdysteroids into developing vitellogenic oocytes as a consequence of male accessory gland protein stimulation of female oocyte maturation and yolk protein synthesis following mating.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)571-577
Number of pages7
JournalJournal of Insect Physiology
Volume45
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 1999
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • 20-Hydroxyecdysone
  • Drosophila melanogaster
  • Ecdysone
  • Ecdysteroid titers

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Physiology
  • Insect Science

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