S. Kimura
Nov 1, 1973
Citations
0
Influential Citations
25
Citations
Quality indicators
Journal
Journal of Insect Physiology
Abstract
Abstract The effect of ecdysterone on the deposition of chitin in Bombyx larvae was examined. The chitin content in the abdomen decreased following hormone treatment to a value half that of the controls. Studies with 14C-glucose revealed that whereas controls exhibited a gradual decrease in the rate of 14C-glucose incorporation into chitin, the administration of ecdysterone resulted in a rapid fall in the rate of incorporation followed by a rise until ecdysis occurred. Chitin catabolism was estimated at 0·11 mg chitin/hr, based on the chitin content and incorporation rates. A dual role is indicated for ecdysterone in chitin metabolism, namely the activation of both synthetic and lytic systems.