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Physiological investigation on the role of the innervation in the regulation of the prothoracic gland in Periplaneta americana
Author(s) -
Richter Klaus
Publication year - 1985
Publication title -
archives of insect biochemistry and physiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.576
H-Index - 66
eISSN - 1520-6327
pISSN - 0739-4462
DOI - 10.1002/arch.940020308
Subject(s) - prothoracic gland , periplaneta , biology , medicine , endocrinology , denervation , ganglion , cockroach , ecdysteroid , efferent , stimulation , ecdysone , anatomy , hormone , ecology , afferent
Abstract Under in vitro conditions the prothoracic gland nerve of the last larval instar of Periplaneta americana shows the same efferent nervous activity as under in situ conditions–ie, low activity at the 9th day and high activity at the 20th day of the molting interval. Isolation of the prothoracic ganglion from the subesophageal ganglion provokes an increase in this nerve activity, suggesting an inhibitory effect of the subesophageal ganglion on prothoracic gland nerve activity in vivo. Only in 20‐day‐old larvae does electrical stimulation of isolated prothoracic glands in vitro via the gland nerve result in a slightly increased release of ecdysteroids from the gland. This effect could not be influenced by different lengths of stimulation periods. Denervation of the prothoracic gland by transection of the gland nerve on the 13th day of the molting interval results in a complete abolition of the first peak of ecdysteroid production in the gland but has no influence on the occurrence and the amount of the main ecdysteroid peak just before the molt. The results suggest the participation of nervous activity in special periods of prothoracic gland regulation in the cockroach.