Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Physiology of insect rhythms

II. The silkmoth brain as the location of the biological clock controlling eclosion

  • Published:
Journal of comparative physiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

  1. 1.

    In silkmoths the gating of adult eclosion by light-dark cycles persists after extirpation of the compound eyes, frontal ganglion, subesophageal ganglion, or corpora allata-corpora cardiaca complex. Removal of the brain abolishes gating and such moths emerge irrespective of time of day or night.

  2. 2.

    Implantation of a brain into the abdomen of a debrained animal restores the ability both to entrain to a light-dark cycle and to free-run under conditions of continuous darkness.

  3. 3.

    Implantation of pieces of brain which contain the cerebral lobes likewise restored to debrained moths the ability to entrain and to free-run. But the synchrony was not as sharp as that observed in moths which had received implants of the entire brain.

  4. 4.

    Transection of the brain lateral to each median neurosecretory cell cluster yields pieces which are apparently incapable of gating the eclosion of debrained moths. Both moths receiving the median piece and those receiving the lateral pieces showed a randomized distribution of eclosion.

  5. 5.

    Experiments involving brain transplantation and selective illumination of parts of the body showed that the brain directly receives the light information which is necessary for the entrainment of the clock.

  6. 6.

    In theCecropia moth, the lights-on signal serves to stimulate eclosion and thus partially masks the output of the clock. This effect is mediated solely by light which is perceived by the compound eyes.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Aschoff, J.: Exogenous and endogenous components in circadian rhythms. Cold Spr. Harb. Symp. quant Biol.25, 11–28 (1960).

    Google Scholar 

  • Brady, J.: How are insect circadian rhythms controlled? Nature (Lond.)223, 781–784 (1969).

    Google Scholar 

  • Dumortier, B.: Photoreception in the circadian rhythm of stridulatory activity inEphippiger (Ins., Orthoptera). Likely existence of two photoreceptive systems. J. comp. Physiol.77, 80–112 (1972).

    Google Scholar 

  • Eidmann, H.: Über rhythmische Erscheinungen bei der StabheuschreckeCarausius morosus Br. Z. vergl. Physiol.38, 370–390 (1956).

    Google Scholar 

  • Engelmann, W., Honnegar, H. W.: Tagesperiodische Schlüpfrhythmik einer augenlosenDrosophila melanogaster-Mutante. Naturwissenschaften53, 588 (1966).

    Google Scholar 

  • Gaston, S.: The influence of the pineal organ on the circadian activity rhythm in birds. In: Biochronometry (M. Menaker, ed.), p. 541–548. Washington: National Academy of Sciences Press 1971.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gaston, S., Menaker, M.: Pineal function: the biological clock in the sparrow ? Science (N.Y.)160, 1125–1127 (1968).

    Google Scholar 

  • Harker, J. E.: Factors controlling the diurnal rhythm of activity inPeriplaneta americana L. J. exp. Biol.33, 224–234 (1956).

    Google Scholar 

  • Harker, J. E.: Endocrine and nervous factors in insect circadian rhythms. Cold Spr. Harb. Symp. quant. Biol.25, 279–287 (1960).

    Google Scholar 

  • Konopka, R. J., Benzer, S.: Clock mutants ofDrosophila melanogaster. Proc. nat. Acad. Sci. (Wash.)68, 2112–2116 (1971).

    Google Scholar 

  • Lees, A. D.: The location of the photoperiodic receptors in the aphidMegoura viciae Buckton. J. exp. Biol.41, 119–133 (1964).

    Google Scholar 

  • Loher, W., Chandrashekaran, M. K.: Circadian rhythmicity in the oviposition of the grasshopperChorthippus curtipennis. J. Insect Physiol.16, 1677–1688 (1970).

    Google Scholar 

  • Nishiitsusuji-Uwo, J., Pittendrigh, C. S.: Central nervous system control of circadian rhythmicity in the cockroach. III. The optic lobes, locus of the driving oscillation ? Z. vergl. Physiol.58, 14–46 (1968).

    Google Scholar 

  • Pittendrigh, C. S., Minis, D. H.: The entrainment of circadian oscillations by light and their role as photoperiodic clocks. Amer. Naturalist98, 261–294 (1964).

    Google Scholar 

  • Pittendrigh, C. S., Minis, D.: The photoperiodic time measurement inPectinophora gossypiella and its relation to the circadian system in that species. In: Biochronometry (M. Menaker, ed.), p. 212–250. Washington: National Academy of Sciences Press 1971.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pittendrigh, C. S., Skopik, S. D.: Circadian systems. V. The driving oscillation and the temporal sequence of development. Proc. nat. Acad. Sci. (Wash.)65, 500–507 (1970).

    Google Scholar 

  • Telfer, W. M.: Cecropia. In: Methods in developmental biology (F. M. Wilt and N. K. Wessells, eds.), p. 173–182. New York: T. Y. Crowell Co. 1967.

    Google Scholar 

  • Truman, J. W.: Circadian rhythms and physiology with special reference to neuroendocrine processes in insects. In Proceedings of the International Symposium on Circadian Rhymicity, p. 111–135. Wageningen: Pudoc Press 1971a.

    Google Scholar 

  • Truman, J. W.: Physiology of insect ecdysis. I. The eclosion behaviour of silkmoths and its hormonal control. J. exp. Biol.54, 805–814 (1971b).

    Google Scholar 

  • Truman, J. W.: The role of the brain in the ecdysis rhythm of silkmoths: comparison with the photoperiodic termination of diapause. In: Biochronometry (M. Menaker, ed.), p. 483–504. Washington: National Academy of Sciences Press 1971c.

    Google Scholar 

  • Truman, J. W.: Involvement of a photoreversible process in the circadian clock controlling silkmoth eclosion. Z. vergl. Physiol.76, 32–40 (1972a).

    Google Scholar 

  • Truman, J. W.: Physiology of insect ecdysis. II. The assay and occurrence of the eclosion hormone in the Chinese oak silkmothAntheraea pernyi. Submitted for publication (1972b).

  • Truman, J. W., Riddiford, L. M.: Neuroendocrine control of ecdysis in silkmoths. Science (N.Y.)167, 1624–1626 (1970).

    Google Scholar 

  • Truman, J. W., Sokolove, P. G.: Silkmoth eclosion: hormonal triggering of a centrally programmed pattern of behavior. Science (N. Y.)175, 1491–1493 (1972).

    Google Scholar 

  • Williams, C. M.: Physiology of insect diapause: the role of the brain in the production and termination of pupal dormancy in the giant silkmoth,Platysamia cecropia. Biol. Bull.90, 234–243 (1946).

    Google Scholar 

  • Williams, C. M.: The juvenile hormone. I. Endocrine activity of the corpora allata of the adult Cecropia silkworm. Biol. Bull.116, 323–338 (1959).

    Google Scholar 

  • Williams, C. M.: Photoperiodism and the endocrine aspects of insect diapause. Symp. Soc. exp. Biol.23, 285–300 (1969).

    Google Scholar 

  • Williams, C. M., Adkisson, P. L.: Physiology of insect diapause.XIV. An endocrine mechanism for the photoperiodic control of pupal diapause in the oak silkworm,Antheraea pernyi. Biol. Bull.127, 511–525 (1964).

    Google Scholar 

  • Zimmerman, W. F., Ives, D.: On the photoreceptor of circadian rhythm inDrosophila. In: Biochronometry (M. Menaker, ed.), p. 381–391. Washington: National Academy of Sciences Press 1971.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Biological Laboratories, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts

    James W. Truman

Authors
  1. James W. Truman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

Dedicated to Prof. J. Aschoff in honor of his sixtieth birthday.

I wish to thank Prof. L. M. Riddiford for many helpful discussions during this investigation and for a critical reading of the manuscript. The advice of Prof. C. M. Williams is also gratefully acknowledged. The β-ecdysone was kindly supplied by Prof. K. Nakanishi of Columbia University. This study was supported by a NSF predoctoral fellowship, the Harvard University Society of Fellows and a NSF grant to L. M. Riddiford.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Truman, J.W. Physiology of insect rhythms. J. Comp. Physiol. 81, 99–114 (1972). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00693553

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00693553

Keywords

Search

Navigation