Effects of farnesyl methyl ether on the haemolymph and ovarian proteins of the tent caterpillar, Malacosoma americanum

• Published in: Journal of insect physiology Vol. 21; no. 4; pp. 733 - 740
• Main Authors: Mansingh, A., Steele, R.W.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 1975
• ISSN: 0022-1910; 1879-1611
• DOI: 10.1016/0022-1910(75)90005-0

The mode of antigonadotropic action of farnesyl methyl ether (FME) on Malacosoma americanum was investigated by studying the haemolymph and ovarial proteins during vitellogenesis. Low doses of FME which permitted apparently normal adult development but inhibited ovarian development were used. As indicated by the incorporation of 14C-glycine, FME treatment had no effect on the protein biosynthetic activity by the fat body. However, it resulted in significant accumulation of several haemolymph proteins apparently caused by their reduced uptake by the ovarioles. Radioassay of individual proteins revealed that all the haemolymph proteins had incorporated 14C-glycine. However, proteins G and H, and to some extent protein B of the treated females, showed significantly higher incorporation of the labelled glycine. It is concluded that the antigonadotropic action of the JH mimic was due to reduced incorporation of various sex-specific and non-specific haemolymph proteins into the ovarioles.