Eur. J. Entomol. 94 (3): 381-383, 1997
Species variation in the response of tsetse flies (Glossina spp.; Diptera: Glossinidae) to parturition hormone
- N/A
Parturition hormone, present in the uterus of several species of Glossina, causes expulsion of the uterine content in neck-ligated, pregnant females of Glossina morsitans, thus eliciting either parturition or abortion. Uteri of all six tsetse species tested (G. morsitans, G. austeni, G. brevipalpis, G. palpalis, G. fuscipes, G. pallidipes) contain parturition hormone activity, and neck-ligated females of G. morsitans, G. austeni, G. palpalis and G. pallidipes all respond to the hormone by giving birth. Though uterine extracts of both G. brevipalpis and G. fuscipes also contain parturition hormone activity, females of these species fail to respond to a hormone injection in our assay system. This suggests that additional or alternative regulatory mechanisms are involved in regulating parturition in certain species.
Keywords: Parturition hormone, uterus, tsetse fly, Glossina
Accepted: April 16, 1997; Published: July 30, 1997 Show citation
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