title: Quantification of protease, amylase and lipase in the gut of Schizodactylus monstrosus during the postembryonic developmental stage. Effect of starvation, stress and topical application of juvenile hormone analogue.
abstract: A quantitative picture is presented on the activities and distribution of three major digestive enzymes in the postembryonic and adult stages of Schizodactylus monstrosus. The activity of enzymes in adult insects of both sexes has also been studied under starvation stress and after the topical application of juvenile hormone analogue. Results show that amylase activity was much higher in the early stages of development while in later stages protease and lipase activity was more significant. Protease activity was highest in the adult male, while the activity of all the enzymes reached its maximum in pregnant females. Starvation stress in adult individuals led to a slight decline of enzyme activity which was insignificant statistically. Topical application of JHa in high doses caused a steady increase in the activity of all the enzymes of which the increase of protease was statistically significant. The probable reasons for the quantitative variation have been discussed.
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000375:Aging; D000681:Amylases / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D004064:Digestive System / Q000201:enzymology; D004852:Epoxy Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D007313:Insecta / Q000201:enzymology*; D008049:Lipase / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D009758:Nymph / Q000201:enzymology; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases / Q000378:metabolism*; D013217:Starvation / Q000201:enzymology
chemical_list: D004852:Epoxy Compounds; C034164:FMC 23509; D008049:Lipase; D000681:Amylases; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases