Summary
Head segments and brains were extirpated from embryos of the tobacco hornworm,Manduca sexta, extracted and the resulting extracts assayed for prothoracicotropic hormone (PTTH) activity on prothoracic glands from day 3 fifth instar larvae and day 0 pupae. Dose-response curves were generated and indicated the presence of PTTH activity in embryonic brains and head segments, suggesting a role(s) for this neurohormone during embryogenesis. Maximal PTTH activity was found in brains from embryos 117 h post-oviposition, just prior to hatching, but activity was also noted in head segments as early as 24 h postoviposition. These data on PTTH and those on ecdysteroids and juvenile hormones in embryos suggest that these 3 classes of hormones which control insect post-embryonic development, may also be involved in the regulation of developmental processes in the embryo.
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Dorn, A., Gilbert, L.I. & Bollenbacher, W.E. Prothoracicotropic hormone activity in the embryonic brain of the tobacco hornworm,Manduca sexta . J Comp Physiol B 157, 279–283 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00693354
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00693354