Eur. J. Entomol. 94 (3): 323-333, 1997
Juvenile hormone in insect reproduction - a paradox?
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The insect corpus allatum hormone known as juvenile hormone (JH) was shown by Wigglesworth 60 years ago to play essential roles in repressing metamorphosis and in stimulating aspects of reproduction. Since then, its many actions in reproduction have been increasingly recognized, and it now appears that, in adult insects of most species, JH is a primary coordinator of reproductive processes. All tissues that are directly or indirectly involved in reproduction can be targets for JH action. In evolution, the reproductive role of JH probably preceded its metamorphic role. At the subcellular level, in adult locust fat body, JH induces the synthesis of factor(s) which bind to specific DNA enhancer sequences and stimulate transcription of a target gene. Since JH effects on transcription factors have recently been reported in larval Manduca epidermis, a common basis for the pre-and post-metamorphic actions of JH may be emerging.
Keywords: Juvenile hormone, reproduction, ovary, fat body, locust, vitellogenin, jhp21, transcription
Accepted: February 12, 1997; Published: July 30, 1997 Show citation
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